Belgium revel in USA upset, mock Trump and FIFA after Balogun controversy

Belgium players celebrated their World Cup round-of-16 victory over the United States by mocking President Donald Trump and FIFA, after the governing body's controversial decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card dominated the buildup. A thumping win in Seattle sealed a quarterfinal clash with Spain, and the Belgians made sure their feelings were known. After scoring their fourth goal, several players broke into Trump's signature dance moves, while the team's official X account posted a blunt message: "Overturn this." Midfielder Nicolas Raskin said the squad felt a deep sense of injustice. "A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," Raskin told reporters. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field." Captain Youri Tielemans echoed that sentiment, insisting the external noise only fueled them. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did." The firestorm began when Trump personally asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the automatic one-match ban, allowing the US striker to play against Belgium. Belgium appealed – and lost. UEFA condemned the decision, saying FIFA had "crossed a red line" and put the "integrity of the game at stake." Infantino defended the independence of his committee, but calls for his resignation have grown louder, led by Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey. Infantino, however, is expected to seek re-election next year with strong backing from African, Asian, and South American confederations. Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia revealed that Balogun approached him after the match. "I really liked that. It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame, and that's what I told him," Garcia said. He dismissed the notion that the controversy had any impact on his team's preparation. "Regardless of the US starting lineup, what really mattered to us is our game plan. The group is very mature." US coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed disappointment at the way politics overshadowed his team's exit. "It didn't affect our performance. It's not an excuse. It wasn't our day," he said. "But in a personal way, what is the point to insult or receive a lot of bad messages? I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity. I am disappointed in a personal way." Defender Tim Ream refused to use the Balogun saga as an excuse. "No, it had no impact. We've done a good job with this group of allowing outside noise to be outside noise. It's got nothing to do with us as players and getting ready for games. That's the world we live in. We were fully focused on us as a group and as a team."