'Overturn This': Belgium Troll USA Over Balogun Controversy After World Cup Rout

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 09:08 IST

Belgium mocked the Balogun controversy after eliminating the USA 4-1, while FIFA confirmed fines for the striker and US Soccer despite suspending his one-match ban.

Belgium didn’t just end the United States’ FIFA World Cup campaign; they also delivered one final jab at the controversy that had dominated the build-up to the Round of 16 clash.

Moments after a commanding 4-1 victory over the USMNT on Monday, Belgium took to social media with a pointed message seemingly aimed at the debate surrounding Folarin Balogun’s eligibility.

The Red Devils posted a picture of Romelu Lukaku celebrating in front of the American supporters while gesturing for more noise, accompanied by the caption: “Overturn this."

The post came less than 24 hours after FIFA suspended Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, allowing the striker to feature despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision sparked widespread criticism after reports claimed the case had been reviewed following contact between the White House and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Although Balogun was cleared to play, FIFA later confirmed that both the striker and the United States Soccer Federation had been sanctioned.

In a statement released on Monday, FIFA said Balogun had been found guilty of serious foul play following his VAR-reviewed red card, as well as returning to the field after his dismissal to celebrate with teammates.

“On 5 July 2026, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee found Balogun guilty of both infringements, imposed a one-match suspension (suspended on probation for one year) and a USD 40,000 fine, and notified the parties of the decision," FIFA said.

The governing body added that the United States Soccer Federation had been held jointly liable for payment of the fine under Article 6.5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

On the pitch, however, the controversy proved irrelevant.

Belgium were clinical throughout as Charles De Ketelaere struck twice, Hans Vanaken capitalised on a costly Matt Freese error, and Lukaku added a stoppage-time fourth to seal a dominant victory.

The United States briefly drew level through Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick, but Belgium quickly restored control before Vanaken’s long-range finish into an empty net — after Freese was caught out of position — effectively ended the contest.

Balogun, whose availability had dominated headlines before kickoff, struggled to influence proceedings as Belgium comfortably advanced.

The Red Devils will now face Spain in Friday’s quarter-final after the European champions edged Portugal 1-0 to end Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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