Belgium’s Celebration After Victory Over the US in FIFA World Cup
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Belgium’s convincing 4-1 win against the United States in the Round of 16 wasn’t the end of the story for the Red Devils. They were looking for a bit of extra satisfaction.
When Romelu Lukaku scored Belgium’s final goal in Seattle on Monday night, he raced to the corner flag and celebrated with a bit of flair—dancing in an imitation of a move famously associated with President Donald Trump.
That celebration continued in the locker room. The players sang and danced along to tunes linked to Trump’s campaign, keeping the mood light but pointed.
Shortly after the game, Belgium’s official social media account shared a message that felt like a jab, stating, “Turn this over.”
This reaction followed FIFA’s decision to suspend US striker Folarin Balogun for one match, which many believed was influenced by Trump’s involvement. This ruling caused friction among the Belgian players, who turned their irritation into motivation for the match.
“We reminded ourselves that we needed to communicate well on the pitch,” said captain Youri Tielemans after their victory. “And that’s exactly what we did.”
Midfielder Charles de Ketelaere, who scored two goals during the match, acknowledged that the earlier ruling definitely boosted their motivation. “It definitely gave us a little extra push today,” he commented.
Nicholas Ruskin was even more forthright, noting that in life, there’s often some form of justice. His remarks expressed the sentiment shared by many players.
The post-game festivities became a noteworthy topic of discussion as Belgium turned its focus toward the quarter-finals against Spain. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois distanced himself from the locker room celebrations, stating he was undergoing a doping test at that time.
Left-back Diego Moreira, when asked about whether the dance had political significance, simply responded, “There are multiple ways to celebrate, and that’s what we did.” He emphasized that they were simply enjoying their win.
Belgium’s frustrations carried over to their preparations in Los Angeles, where the federation requested a new training facility, citing issues with the original site.
Heading into Thursday, the team’s focus was on Spain, with coach Rudi Garcia and Lukaku trying to move past the earlier controversy during their pre-match press conference. When asked if the crowd in Los Angeles might be unfriendly, Garcia replied, “We just bested the United States in a match where everyone was against us. I don’t think the situation will be more difficult tomorrow. It’s the players that score, not the fans.”
Nevertheless, the image of Belgian players playfully mimicking Trump and celebrating in Seattle lingers. Some might argue that before the US exits the World Cup stage, it’s fitting for one of America’s renowned political gestures to be transformed into a celebration for its rivals.
