Charles De Ketelaere Shines as Belgium Beats USA in World Cup Round of 16

Belgium advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals after defeating the United States 3-1 in their Round of 16 match held in Seattle. Charles De Ketelaere was the standout player, scoring two goals that put Belgium ahead 2-1 by halftime. In the second half, he intercepted a ball from US goalkeeper Matt Turner and assisted the third goal, securing the victory for the Red Devils.

Belgian media hailed De Ketelaere's performance as "the game of his life," praising his ability to rise to the occasion when coach Rudi Garcia needed him most. Former player Roy Keane commented on De Ketelaere's first goal, which resulted from a defensive error by the US team, noting that such mistakes are unacceptable at this stage of the tournament and reflected weak defending rather than bad luck.

With this match, De Ketelaere improved his national team record to eight goals and three assists. He is the first Belgian player since Tomas Rosicky in 2006 to score a brace against the United States. Additionally, Leandro Trossard, who assisted Belgium's second goal, created 17 chances during the 2026 World Cup, the highest of any player in the tournament. Analysts highlighted Trossard's awareness of his strengths and weaknesses as key to his effectiveness on the field.