World Cup summary: Belgium crush USA as Spain end Ronaldo’s World Cup career

Sports Donald TrumpfootballUnited Statesworld cup World Cup summary: Belgium crush USA as Spain end Ronaldo’s World Cup career Fifa World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 Portugal Vs Spain Relevant News Water supply cut in Larnaca’s Livadia area today 7 July 2026 World Cup summary: Belgium crush USA as Spain end Ronaldo’s World Cup career 7 July 2026 Transport Department warns of fire and injury risks for these vehicles 7 July 2026 Newsroom 7 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The United States’ World Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday while in the same evening, Spain overcame Portugal with a late 1-0 victory to bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Here is a Reuters roundup of what happened in each match: Belgium 4-1 USA In Dallas, Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in Belgium’s 4-1 win, overshadowed by FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s ban. Balogan was permitted to play, despite receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprecedented intervention but he barely had an impact on the pitch. The 25-year-old forward did win the free kick which led to a first-half equaliser, though Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin said the perceived injustice had actually motivated Balogun’s opponents. “I think there was always justice somewhere in life and the fact that something can happen like that … but we don’t think that was fair,” Raskin said. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said the row had not affected his team and attributed their poor performance to an off-day against a top side. “We were not good enough today, we don’t need to find another excuse … I think it wasn’t a situation that affects us,” he told reporters. US DEFEAT ENDS CO-HOSTS’ INVOLVEMENT De Ketelaere gave Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, taking full advantage of a nervous start by the U.S. to quickly deflate the partisan crowd. Malik Tillman’s deflected free kick levelled the game in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere restored Belgium’s lead almost immediately with a back-post header. The U.S. improved after the break until a calamitous error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute. Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth in added time to send U.S. fans streaming for the exits and Belgium into the quarter-finals for the third time in the last four World Cups. They will play European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday. The U.S. defeat means all three co-hosts are out of the tournament, after Canada and Mexico lost their last-16 games. “In the moments that we were doing well (in the tournament), we felt amazing,” U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said. “And then obviously, an opportunity like today, we didn’t grasp it – and it’s gonna sting.” BALOGUN LACKS IMPACT FOR U.S. The U.S. struggled with Belgium’s intensity from the start and, with the crowd still going through their first chant of “U-S-A!”, Timothy Castagne forced Freese into a fingertip save. Youri Tielemans fluffed an early chance but the U.S. did not learn their lesson and De Ketelaere tapped home Raskin’s cross after the hosts failed to clear their lines. Belgium’s momentum was stalled by Amadou Onana’s early injury, which coach Rudi Garcia said may end the midfielder’s tournament. The hydration break came at a good time for the U.S. and they got a slice of luck with Tillman’s equaliser,but swiftly conceded another cheap goal to cede the initiative once more. Any hopes of a comeback were then shattered when Freese dawdled on the ball out of his goal and gave Vanaken an open goal, before Lukaku bagged his seventh career World Cup goal and 93rd for Belgium late on, 12 years after he scored against the U.S. in another last-16 victory. Despite their exit, Pochettino said the future was bright for the U.S. squad and the Argentinian coach also suggested he wanted to continue. “I think now … it’s (time to) rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations, and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us,” he added. “But I am so happy.” Spain 1-0 Portugal Spain substitute Mikel Merino broke through a stubborn Portugal defence in the 91st minute to earn his side a 1-0 win on Monday to take the former champions into the quarter-finals and bring the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. The midfielder scored six minutes after coming off the bench in the Iberian Derby at Dallas Stadium to move the European champions into the last eight, prevailing where his teammates had been frustrated by a determined Portuguese backline. “Mikel Merino never lets us down, he’s a safe bet,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “He helped us win the European Championship and is always there when it counts. He’s one of the best players in the world in his position. “Mikel performs exceptionally well and is always exactly where he needs to be.” Spain needed the quick-thinking Merino to unlock a Portugal defence that had frustrated de la Fuente’s side throughout a second half dominated by the 2010 title winners. Introduced from the bench for Dani Olmo, it was Merino who started and finished the move that clinched victory for Spain, who will face either Belgium or the United States, who meet later on Monday, in the quarter-finals on Friday. Having rolled a quickly-taken free kick to his left, Merino drifted into space on the fringe of the penalty area, where fellow substitute Ferran Torres found his unmarked team mate in the perfect position to strike into the bottom corner. The outcome left Ronaldo crestfallen, the forward leaving the field to sympathetic cheers from the sold-out crowd as Portugal exited a day after the former Real Madrid forward had confirmed the tournament would be his last World Cup. EARLY ATTACKING INTENT The Spaniards progressed after both teams had shown their attacking intent early, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal testing goalkeeper Diogo Costa from distance and Portugal’s Joao Cancelo lashing his rising shot over the crossbar. Oyarzabal should have put his side ahead after eight minutes when a slick move sliced through the Portuguese midfield with Olmo’s incisive first-time pass releasing the Real Sociedad man who dragged his shot wide of Costa’s left post. Bruno Fernandes then dispossessed Pedri to set up Ronaldo soon after, but keeper Unai Simon blocked the effort with ease. Portugal’s Costa was then called on to make two saves in quick succession, denying Lamine Yamal from the right and, more spectacularly, Alex Baena’s follow-up with a full-stretch, fingertip effort. Spain’s Simon saved Joao Felix’s header before pushing away Ronaldo’s volley on the rebound, while Nuno Mendes went closest with a shot that was redirected onto the bar by Spanish defender Pedro Porro’s header as Portugal finished the half on top. Roberto Martinez’s side were reduced to playing on the counter after the interval, with Spain dominating possession. Lamine’s free kick was tipped over by Costa while Portuguese midfielder Vitinha’s strike was deflected into the path of Fernandes but he shot into the side-netting. Merino, however, stepped up to prevent the game going to extra-time, although Portugal substitute Bernardo Silva almost equalised in the 97th, frustratingly heading over the bar. “We came here with a very clear objective of what we wanted to achieve, which was to win the World Cup, but unfortunately we didn’t perform at our best,” said Fernandes. “Obviously, Spain deserve credit. They have quality and great players, but I think that, based on what we did in the first half, if we’d carried on like that, we would have come away with a different result.” (Reuters) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Water supply cut in Larnaca’s Livadia area today Transport Department warns of fire and injury risks for these vehicles Man barricades himself, threatens relatives with knife and gets disarmed by police Police hunt youths after Limassol roundabout tyre fire (video) Phedonos-era Paphos Municipality faces possible criminal referral Explained: The €7.5m energy storage project proposed for Pentakomo Bomb blast damages Limassol cultural centre entrance (photos) Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.