International media outlets have praised Belgium following its emphatic 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with several publications joking that “not even a phone call from President Donald Trump” could have altered the outcome.
The match, played in Seattle, saw Belgium produce one of its strongest performances of the tournament to comfortably eliminate the host nation and advance to the quarter-finals.
Football analysts described the victory as a testament to the tactical brilliance of Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia and the quality of his squad.
The result came amid controversy surrounding claims that Donald Trump had influenced FIFA to overturn a red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to feature in the match.
According to CNN, many neutral observers viewed Belgium’s victory as “justice served” after days of speculation over alleged political interference in the tournament.
The Daily Mail wrote that Balogun’s inclusion ultimately made little difference, with Belgian midfielder Charles De Ketelaere emerging as the standout performer. The newspaper also noted that the United States looked significantly weaker than it had during the group stage, particularly in defense.
Spain’s Marca echoed the sentiment, saying that “even if Trump tried, he could not stop what was destined to happen,” adding that the “American dream” was unable to halt Belgium’s march.
In a humorous take, Spanish sports newspaper AS joked that Trump might consider imposing a 100% tariff on Belgian beer in response to the defeat, but added that no presidential phone call could reverse what had happened on the pitch.
Pundits also applauded Garcia’s bold tactical decisions. Despite leaving experienced stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, and Romelu Lukaku on the bench at the start of the match, Belgium’s starting lineup delivered an outstanding performance, underlining the team’s depth and strength.