SEATTLE, USA: Belgium delivered a resounding 4-1 victory over the United States in the World Cup round of 16, but it was their post-match celebration that stole the headlines.
The Belgian squad took aim at both US President Donald Trump and FIFA, mocking the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s overturned suspension.
The official X account of the Belgium team posted a defiant image of their celebrating players with the caption: “Overturn this”, a sarcastic jab at FIFA’s decision to rescind Balogun’s red card just hours before the match.
Overturn this. 🧏♂️ #USABEL pic.twitter.com/KcBAJp3Z7d
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 7, 2026
The mockery didn’t stop there. After Romelu Lukaku scored Belgium’s fourth goal at Lumen Field, players broke into Trump’s signature dance, the side-to-side hip sways and alternating fist pumps that the President famously performs to “YMCA” at his rallies.
‘A sense of injustice’ fuelled Belgian victory
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin revealed that the team was motivated by outrage over the Balogun controversy.
“A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days,” Raskin said. “There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field.”
Captain Youri Tielemans added: “We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That’s what we did.”
Belgium badly beats US, despite Trump’s and FIFA’s cheating and corruption. The winners celebrate mocking loser Trump’s way of would-be dance pic.twitter.com/dB5PUilp0A
— Alfons López Tena 🦇 (@alfonslopeztena) July 7, 2026
Trump confirms role in overturned ban
The controversy began when Balogun received a red card in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina, an incident that should have ruled him out of Monday’s match per FIFA protocols. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee “suspended” the one-match ban just hours before kickoff.
Trump admitted he had personally lobbied FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the decision. FIFA maintained that the decision was made independently, but Belgium clearly wasn’t convinced.
pic.twitter.com/AJWtL9n3lt Belgium beat the USA 1-4 on their home and they mock Trump and his dance moves
— Irlandarra (@martinez_j7902) July 7, 2026
Iranian officials join the taunting
Iran’s football federation also took aim at the US exit, with a spokesman stating: “Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics’ humiliating defeat by football.”
This appeared to reference US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who earlier celebrated Iran’s World Cup exit with a “happy dance.”
The Belgium team came out aggressively attacking Team USA and our guys had nothing to stop it. Every team has an off night, but Team USA looked lackadaisical and unprepared. That said, Team USA had a great run:
Belgium embarrasses Team USA before breaking out Trump’s signature…— Allen Huggins (@AllenHuggins8) July 7, 2026
Balogun responds
Balogun, who was allowed to play but failed to make an impact, said he had no involvement in the decision to overturn his ban.
“I didn’t have any involvement in the process and that’s not something that has anything to do with me,” he said. “Belgium were a better team today. They played much better than us.”
Also Read: Trump Confirms Request for FIFA Review of Red Card Decision Against US Striker Balogun
Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday in Los Angeles, while the US returns home after a tournament that promised much but ended in humiliation.
