A Victory That Echoed Beyond the Pitch
Belgium's midfield star Nicolas Raskin said the 4-1 victory over the United States felt like a long‑awaited measure of justice after the tournament's most debated officiating decision.
The win came after FIFA permitted U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to take the field even though he had been shown a red card in an earlier match, a move that sparked protests from Belgium's football federation and drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.
Romelu Lukaku's Instagram account amplified the sentiment by sharing a photo of the Belgian squad celebrating with the caption “Overturn this,” a direct jab at the controversial ruling.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, however, brushed aside the fallout, insisting that the team's focus remained on executing their game plan. After the final whistle he spoke privately with Balogun, assuring him that the incident was not his responsibility.
With the controversy now settled on the field, Belgium will meet Spain in the quarter‑finals, carrying the momentum of a win that many view as a symbolic reversal of the earlier dispute.