Lukaku double sinks USA, Belgium face Spain in World Cup quarter-finals

Belgium 4–1 USA, host nation out

Your team demolished the host nation. Romelu Lukaku struck twice and Belgium ran out 4–1 winners in the World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday (4) (6). The quarter-final is set: Spain await.

De Bruyne not needed, says Vanhaezebrouck

Kevin De Bruyne watched from the sidelines and analyst Hein Vanhaezebrouck made a sharp point: "With a match like the one against the USA, De Bruyne would not be happy. And with that pattern of play, you don't really need him" (2). The Spain question now looms, can this setup work against Rodri and company without your best midfielder?

Doku vs Rodri in the quarters

Jeremy Doku and Rodri, Manchester City teammates, face each other next. Belgium meet Spain in the quarter-finals after Luis de la Fuente's side beat Portugal to book their place (6). The matchup is as good as it gets.

Trump dance celebration goes viral

Axel Witsel admitted the celebration was planned. After the first goal, the squad broke into a Donald Trump dance, a pointed response to the former president's intervention in Folarin Balogun's suspension saga (3). "It was an idea from the group," Witsel said. "The best way to respond to everything that happened is on the pitch. And we did that" (3).

Balogun speaks out

Folarin Balogun commented on the controversy that engulfed the buildup, addressing Trump's role in his suspension before the match (5). The USA striker was candid, though the damage was already done. Your team let the football do the talking.

Fan reactions

Belgium fans on Reddit are in full celebration mode, with one post declaring it "Trump 1, Belgium 4 – and the world rejoices" (1). The mood is gleeful and pointed: supporters see the result as poetic justice after a week of political drama. Another thread captured the wider sentiment bluntly: "America rigs the World Cup, then bows out as a laughingstock" (2).