Belgium ended the United States’ World Cup run with a 4-1 victory at Seattle Stadium, powered by Charles De Ketelaere’s two goals and one assist. The result sends Rudi Garcia’s side into a quarter-final meeting with Spain, while the co-hosts exit at the last-16 stage.

The defeat continues a difficult pattern for the USA at this point of the tournament. They have now gone out in the round of 16 in six of seven appearances at this stage, including each campaign from 2010 through to 2026, despite renewed expectations as co-hosts.

After a frantic first period, the second half brought fewer chances but a decisive mistake. Goalkeeper Matt Freese was dispossessed by De Ketelaere far from goal, allowing Hans Vanaken to score from distance and stretch Belgium’s lead, leaving the USA with a huge task.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team then created two clear openings but failed to respond. Sebastian Berhalter shot wide from a promising position, and Folarin Balogun forced a save from Thibaut Courtois. Belgium later punished another lapse when Romelu Lukaku finished calmly in stoppage time after Chris Richards miscontrolled a routine ball.

Belgium had set the tone long before those late blows. Within the opening minute, Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans saw efforts blocked, and Timothy Castagne drew a full-stretch save from Freese, signalling constant pressure from the European side from almost the first whistle.

The breakthrough arrived in the ninth minute after Nicolas Raskin seized on a loose ball near the area. Raskin drove a low cross into the six-yard box, where De Ketelaere arrived unmarked to finish from close range and give Belgium the early advantage they had threatened.

Amadou Onana’s knee injury briefly checked Belgium’s rhythm and the USA struck back around the half-hour. Malik Tillman’s free-kick took a deflection that wrong-footed Courtois. The equaliser lifted the crowd, yet parity lasted only two minutes as De Ketelaere headed in Trossard’s left-wing cross above Tim Ream.