Belgium has eliminated host nation United States from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in a match partly shaped by a disputed disciplinary decision involving American player Florian Balogun.

According to GoogleNewsNL, Balogun received a red card during the fixture, after which FIFA reportedly offered Belgium the opportunity to respond regarding the handling of the subsequently dismissed card. The precise circumstances surrounding the disciplinary procedure could not be fully established on the basis of the available source material.

GoogleNewsNL further reported that United States goalkeeper Matt Freese committed a significant error, which placed Belgium in an advantageous position. The Belgian side capitalised on the situation and thereby secured progression to the next round of the tournament.

The match was played as part of the 2026 World Cup, of which the United States is one of the host nations. The elimination of a host nation at this stage of the competition represents a notable development within the tournament.

The parties involved could not be reached for comment.