# Live Match: USA vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup Round of 16 — Balogun in Starting XI After Trump's Ban Reversal

> Belgium have stormed into a commanding 4-1 lead over the United States in their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter, with Romelu Lukaku's late goal all but extinguishing American hopes. The match has been dogged by controversy after Donald Trump successfully pressured FIFA into overturning a one-match suspension handed to Folarin Balogun following a red card, clearing him to take the field.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Live · **Published:** 2026-07-07 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/live/live-match-usa-vs-belgium-fifa-world-cup-round-of-16-balogun-in-starting-xi-after-trump-s-ban-reversal-5336 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** U.S. vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup, U.S., Belgium, FIFA World Cup 2026, football, live score, match live updates

The Round of 16 clash between the United States and Belgium took place amidst a significant footballing controversy. The European governing body UEFA publicly criticized FIFA for its decision to lift the red card suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun. The reversal of the suspension came following an official appeal from US President Donald Trump, who urged FIFA to reconsider the ruling. UEFA officials described the move as unprecedented and illogical, claiming it undermined the credibility of the sport. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) also expressed deep frustration on the night of July 5, 2026, regarding the decision to allow the suspended player to participate.

## First Half Action
As the match commenced, both sides displayed high intensity. Belgium's Leandro Trossard attempted a shot from outside the box, but it was quickly blocked. American goalkeeper Matt Freese made a brilliant save to deny Timothy Castagne’s powerful strike heading for the top left corner. However, Belgium broke the deadlock at the 8:36 mark, when Charles De Ketelaere scored from close range off a pass from Nicolas Raskin, making the score 1-0. The half was marred by multiple injury stoppages, including incidents involving Chris Richards and Amadou Onana, the latter of whom had to be replaced by Hans Vanaken.

## Second Half Developments
At the start of the second half, the US introduced Giovanni Reyna in place of Sergino Dest. Further injury woes plagued the US team when Christian Pulisic was forced off the pitch in the 58th minute, replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. Belgium responded with tactical substitutions, bringing on Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku. Folarin Balogun attempted to create chances for the Americans, but Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced a key save to stop his effort. US players Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman were both shown yellow cards for aggressive fouls throughout the remainder of the match.

## Final Result
Belgium cemented their dominance in the closing stages. In the 92nd minute, Romelu Lukaku scored a clinical goal into the bottom right corner, set up by Hans Vanaken, finalizing the scoreline at 4-1. While the US made late substitutions, including Haji Wright for Balogun, they were unable to mount a comeback. Belgium ultimately moved forward in the tournament, ending the American campaign in this Round of 16 fixture.

## What this means for you
- **Sports Policy:** This instance of political interference in a major international tournament may spark a new debate regarding the future autonomy of sports governing bodies.
- **Team Management:** Frequent injuries and forced tactical changes during matches raise serious questions regarding player fitness and squad rotation management.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What was the final result of the match?
Belgium won the match, defeating the United States with a score of 4-1.

### 2. Why was Folarin Balogun allowed to play?
His suspension was lifted after an appeal was made by US President Donald Trump for FIFA to reconsider the case.

### 3. Who scored for the United States in this match?
The United States did not score any goals in this match, failing to respond to Belgium's four goals.

### 4. Which key players suffered injuries during the match?
USA's Christian Pulisic and Chris Richards, as well as Belgium's Amadou Onana and Brandon Mechele, sustained injuries during the game.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._