Belgium took a swipe at the United States and President Donald Trump following their convincing 4-1 victory over the World Cup co-hosts, with the Red Devils using their celebrations and social media activity to reference the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s overturned suspension.
Belgium booked their place in the quarter-finals after a dominant display on Monday, but the aftermath of the match was dominated by the reaction to the Balogun incident and the events that unfolded before kick-off.
The United States striker had initially been handed a one-match suspension after receiving a red card during the team’s Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Under FIFA regulations, the dismissal meant Balogun was expected to miss the last-16 meeting with Belgium.
However, FIFA later suspended the ban for 12 months, allowing the forward to feature against the European side.
The decision attracted widespread attention after it emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump had spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino about the matter.
Infantino later insisted that the decision was made independently by FIFA’s disciplinary bodies and was not influenced by the conversation.
Belgium appeared to refer to the controversy after securing a place in the last eight.
Following Romelu Lukaku’s late goal in stoppage time to complete the 4-1 victory, Belgian players celebrated in front of American supporters at the corner flag by imitating one of Trump’s famous dance moves.
The moment quickly circulated online, adding another layer of drama to an already heated build-up.
Belgium’s official football account on X also joined the conversation by posting an image of the players celebrating with the caption: “Overturn this.”
The message was interpreted as a direct reference to the decision to reverse Balogun’s suspension.
The Belgian account also made a playful reference to the long-running debate over the name of the sport, posting: “We call it football,” while crossing out the word “soccer”.
The social media posts came after Belgium delivered a statement performance on the pitch.
Charles de Ketelaere scored twice, while Hans Vanaken and Lukaku added further goals to send Belgium through to the quarter-finals and bring an end to the United States’ hopes of continuing their home tournament run.
Balogun started the match after his suspension was overturned but was unable to influence proceedings as Belgium controlled large portions of the game.
The striker had been at the centre of discussion after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina became one of the tournament’s most debated moments.
Balogun was initially not shown a foul during the incident but, following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the decision was upgraded to a red card.
The challenge occurred as Balogun attempted to win the ball, with the striker making contact with an opponent’s ankle. Many observers argued the contact was accidental and did not warrant a dismissal.
Despite the criticism surrounding the decision, FIFA maintained its disciplinary process and later allowed Balogun to return after reviewing the suspension.
Belgium’s victory ensured that the controversy surrounding the American forward did not affect their progress, as they advanced to face Spain in the quarter-finals.
The Red Devils’ performance on the pitch settled the contest, but their post-match celebrations ensured the Balogun controversy remained one of the talking points of the 2026 World Cup.
