Belgium coach Rudi Garcia struck conciliatory remarks after his side’s 4-1 win over the United States, insisting Folarin Balogun should not be blamed for his eligibility dispute and revealing the United States forward approached him personally after the final whistle.Balogun dominated the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup after FIFA suspended his one-match ban, allowing him to face Belgium despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision sparked widespread criticism within the football community, with the Belgian Football Federation questioning the move and several leading figures expressing concern about the precedent it set.However, Garcia made it clear that his frustration was never directed at the players.“Balogon came to talk to me, and I like that. It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame. I told him that. I’m grateful that he came to talk to me,” Garcia said, according to The Athletic.
Belgium remain focused despite off-field noise
Garcia also dismissed suggestions that the Balogun controversy provided extra motivation for his players, stressing that Belgium’s focus remains solely on executing their tactical plan.“It’s not necessary, there’s no need (in terms of motivation). What’s really important for us is our game plan. We want to stand out; the U.S. team is dynamic, full of energy. We don’t need Kevin (De Bruyne), we score,” he said.Belgium proved that with a dominant performance in Seattle. Charles De Ketelaere won the Man of the Match award with a brace and Hans Vanaken scored his maiden goal fifa world cup In stoppage time, substitute Romelu Lukaku scored to seal a comprehensive victory.The United States briefly evened the score on a deflected free kick from Malik Tillman, but defensive errors and a costly error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Belgium to equalize.
Praise Belgium, pay attention to Onana
While celebrating his advancement to the quarter-finals, Garcia also took time to thank the Belgian fans who watched the match throughout the night.“I think it’s 4 o’clock in the morning in Belgium. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who got up in the middle of the night to support us. They should be happy and proud of their players today. We proved that Belgium is a great football country. The players performed brilliantly and followed the game plan perfectly. We were in control the whole game. Again, it was a real team effort,” Garcia said.The Belgian coach admitted that despite the resounding victory, there was still one major problem.“The biggest disappointment, the dark cloud tonight, is Amadou Onana’s injury. We should thank him for going on in the second half, winning the game and advancing to the quarter-finals,” he added.Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals on July 10.
