Belgium's Thibaut Courtois Criticizes US Over Disrespect Ahead of World Cup Victory

Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. The match was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Belgian player Florian Balogun, who was allowed to play despite a prior red card, following an unusual intervention by then-US President Donald Trump. After the game, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois openly criticized the US team, saying, "We punished the Americans for the disrespect they showed us in recent days. The whole situation was illogical, and we felt they looked down on us." Courtois expressed confidence in Belgium's performance, contrasting it with his concerns about Senegal, whom Belgium had faced earlier. He stated, "I was very sure about the game against the US. I knew we would beat them, unlike with Senegal, who are simply much better." Belgium, which started the tournament hesitantly, has shown clear improvement as the World Cup progresses. Following their strong showing against the US, the Belgian team now looks ahead to a challenging quarterfinal match against European champions Spain, with a spot in the semifinals at stake.