World Cup 2026: 'Feeling of injustice' - Belgium says it

The Belgium team felt deeply wronged after FIFA suspended the punishment for striker Folarin Balogun, who had received a red card in a previous match. This decision, announced shortly before the decisive clash against the United States, generated a wave of negative reactions, both from the Belgian side and from other European football entities. Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin revealed that the team were determined to show their strength on the pitch, driven by this "sense of injustice". "A lot has happened off the field in the last two days. There was a sense of injustice within the group, and we were determined to respond on the field," Raskin said after the victory. The game took place in the city of Seattle, and despite the controversy surrounding the presence of Balogun, who ended up starting the match, Belgium had no difficulty in dominating the game. With a solid performance, the Belgians beat the hosts 4-1, guaranteeing their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. The team's captain, Youri Tielemans, reinforced the idea that the situation had, in fact, motivated the group to do their best on the field. "We told ourselves that we needed to respond on the field, and that's what we did," he highlighted. After Belgium's fourth goal, some players celebrated in a provocative way, imitating Trump's famous dance, which went viral during the 2024 presidential campaign. The Belgian team's official Instagram account even made fun of the situation, publishing a photo of striker Romelu Lukaku with the caption "repeal this", hinting at the controversy surrounding FIFA's decision.  Belgium coach Rudi Garcia commented on the situation, stating that Balogun "came to talk" after the match. "I really appreciated that. It's not his fault, he's not responsible, and that's what I told him," Garcia explained. Furthermore, the issue generated international reactions, such as that of Iran, which took the opportunity to criticize the USA, posting a comparison between Belgium's result and its own defeat to the Belgians. The situation involving Balogun and FIFA's decision also caught the attention of US President Donald Trump, who called for a review of the case. He stated that the decision to suspend the punishment was the correct one, avoiding what could be a "big stain" on the tournament. This controversy has raised questions about the integrity of FIFA's decisions and the precedents that can be set with political interventions. England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed concern about the future implications, suggesting that clear limits need to be set in relation to external interventions in football administrative decisions. --- ## Related Articles 1. [World Cup 2026: USA 1-4 Belgium Highlights - 7 July 2026](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/world-cup-2026-usa-1-4-belgium-highlights-7-july-2026)

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.