The United States men's national team crashed out of the World Cup on Tuesday after a 4-1 loss to Belgium. The defeat prevented the co-host from reaching its first quarterfinal since 2002, making the U.S. the last World Cup host to be eliminated from the tournament. In a separate match, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0.
The buildup to the match was dominated by an all-time controversy in the World Cup's 96-year history regarding striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun's one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA following an unprecedented intervention by President Trump. While outrage over the decision continued to simmer, Balogun returned to the lineup for the game.
Belgium took an early lead in the ninth minute when Charles De Ketelaere scored with a simple tap-in, capitalizing on a nervous start by the U.S. to quickly deflate the partisan crowd. Despite his return, Balogun played a forgettable role and left little impact on the game.
US coach Pochettino relayed his disappointment and frustration, insisting that the backlash over Balogun's ban was no excuse for the team's poor performance. While players denied that the whirlwind surrounding the reversed suspension was a distraction, the U.S. ultimately slumped to the defeat.