World Cup Round of 16: Belgium Crushes USA After Spain Beats Portugal

Spain Edges Past Portugal in a Tight Clash

The World Cup Round of 16 brought intense battles, starting with a classic Iberian duel. Spain appeared strong and controlled the match against Portugal on Monday. Despite their dominance, it took until stoppage time for Spain to find the breakthrough. Mikel Merino scored off a beautiful assist from Ferran Torres, securing a narrow 1-0 victory for La Roja.

Belgium Dominates USA in Seattle

Later that night, Belgium overwhelmed the U.S. Men’s National Team at Lumen Field, shutting down any hopes of an upset. Even though FIFA lifted Folarin Balogun's suspension just before the game, it made no difference as Belgium ran rampant.

Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring early in the ninth minute. The U.S. responded with a stunning free kick by Malik Tillman in the 31st minute to level the score. But De Ketelaere quickly struck again, exploiting defensive gaps. In the second half, Hans Vanaken capitalized on a costly mistake between goalkeeper Matt Freese and defender Tim Ream to extend the lead. Finally, Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time goal to seal a convincing 4-1 win for Belgium.

Monday's Results

• Spain 1, Portugal 0
• Belgium 4, USA 1

The U.S. World Cup Run Ends on a Sour Note

The loss left the American team and fans with mixed feelings. There was clear disappointment after being outmatched by Belgium, a powerhouse European squad. Antonee Robinson admitted, "It was unlike any other performances we've had this summer, to be honest. It's hard to say where it went wrong." Still, the memories of their spirited play and progress over the tournament lingered with pride.

Pulisic Exits Early With Injury

Things worsened when star midfielder Christian Pulisic left the game in the 59th minute, shortly after conceding a poor goal. His visible distress and treatment on the bench worried supporters.

Defensive Breakdown Costs USA Dearly

One critical moment came in the 57th minute. Belgium launched a deep ball forward, with three Americans chasing. Goalkeeper Matt Freese ventured far outside the box trying to gather the ball but failed. De Ketelaere stripped him of possession, passing to Hans Vanaken, who scored easily as only Tim Ream stood in defense. This goal deflated the crowd and shifted momentum firmly to Belgium.

Score Progression

• Early lead: De Ketelaere scores for Belgium.
• USA equalizes: Malik Tillman’s free kick makes it 1-1.
• Belgium retakes lead: De Ketelaere scores again immediately after.
• Second half goal: Vanaken exploits USA defensive error, 3-1.
• Final nail: Lukaku nets in stoppage time to complete 4-1.

Lineups and Surprises

Belgium started without stars Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, both benched despite recent matches. Their lineup featured Courtois in goal and De Ketelaere leading the attack.

USA fielded a full-strength side including Balogun, whose suspension was lifted just before kickoff, alongside Pulisic and Tillman in attack.

Political Drama Off the Pitch

Not all drama came from the field. FIFA faced pressure from world leaders during the tournament. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intervened to keep England's Round of 16 match kickoff time unchanged despite discussions to move it earlier due to weather concerns. This contrasted with pressure from former President Donald Trump over scheduling matters as well.