Belgium has eliminated the USA from the World Cup, and their post-match celebrations have become a significant topic of discussion alongside the result.
The host nation was outplayed throughout the match in Seattle, eventually losing 4-1 in a round of 16 encounter. This defeat means they will exit their own tournament much earlier than anticipated.
In the lead-up to the game, there was considerable attention on a controversy involving Donald Trump.
The US president was perceived to have influenced the suspension of a one-match ban for striker Folarin Balogun, following his red card in the victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This decision allowed Balogun to start against Belgium, which left the Europeans displeased before the game commenced.
Belgium reacted to the situation powerfully and expressed their emotions openly once the match concluded.
Following Romelu Lukaku’s goal in stoppage time, several Belgian players mimicked the ‘Trump dance’, a popular routine associated with the president’s 2024 election campaign.
This dance has appeared on the football field before. USA forward Christian Pulisic celebrated with it after a goal against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League, making Belgium’s gesture seem even more pointed.
The mocking continued off the pitch as well. Belgium’s Instagram account shared a photo of Lukaku with the caption ‘overturn this’, referencing the week’s controversy.
Prior to the game, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed their disappointment, calling themselves ‘astonished’ by Fifa’s decision to annul Balogun’s suspension.
The RBFA’s appeal against this ruling was rejected by Fifa, as the disciplinary committee determined Belgium was not directly involved in the incident and was merely the USA’s subsequent opponent.
When questioned about his role in the affair, Trump denied influencing the decision.
“I didn’t tell [Infantino] what to do. I can’t tell him what to do, but, and I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision, because number one, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”
Despite the defense, Belgium seemed determined to make a statement, which was reflected in their gameplay. Balogun’s limited impact on the match allowed the outcome to speak for itself, even before the celebrations ensued.
Now, Belgium prepares for a quarter-final clash with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday, which promises to be a highlight of the round.
UNILAD has reached out to Fifa and the White House for comments.