De Ketelaere scores early as Belgium stuns USMNT in World Cup clash

Charles De Ketelaere made the United States pay immediately in Seattle Stadium, pouncing on a poor clearance from inside the U.S. penalty area and finishing to give Belgium the lead in the ninth minute of its World Cup round-of-16 clash. The Atalanta midfielder did not need a second invitation after the ball broke free, a sequence that exposed how quickly the USMNT could be undone when its defensive exit under pressure broke down.

The goal fit the matchup Belgium had built for itself. Rudi Garcia’s side arrived first in Group G and had already survived one of the tournament’s wildest knockout escapes, overturning a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time in the round of 32. FIFA’s pregame scouting had highlighted Belgium’s two-pronged attack, with Romelu Lukaku offering a box presence and De Ketelaere operating in a No. 10-like role, able to link play, arrive late and finish. That profile was on display again as Belgium stayed poised around the U.S. area and capitalized on a loose clearance instead of forcing a clean second chance.

The United States had entered the match with some momentum of its own. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had finished first in Group D and followed with a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the program’s first World Cup knockout victory since 2002. But the roster took a significant hit with Folarin Balogun suspended after his dismissal in the previous round, removing a direct attacking option as the Americans tried to respond to Belgium’s early strike.

The stakes carried added weight because the teams had seen each other recently. Belgium beat the United States 5-2 in a March 2026 friendly in Atlanta, and FIFA noted that the Seattle meeting revived a World Cup knockout rivalry not seen since Brazil 2014. In that context, De Ketelaere’s early finish was more than a fast start: it underlined how Belgium can punish hesitation, and how one failed clearance can quickly turn into a test of whether the U.S. can stay composed when the game tightens.