07.07.2026, 13:27 Uhr
Belgium revelled in trolling opponents the United States and President Donald Trump after eliminating the World Cup co-hosts 4-1 in the last 16.
The build-up to Monday's game had been dominated by confirmation Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking for US striker Folarin Balogun's suspension to be overturned.
FIFA did so and he duly played, shocking the football community, but Infantino said it had nothing to do with Trump's call.
Belgium acknowledged they had used the affair as fuel for their victory, which set up a quarter-final with Spain.
"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," influential Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad and we were determined to respond on the field."
After Belgium's fourth goal, the players mimicked a Trump dance that went viral during the 2024 US presidential campaign.
Scorer Romelu Lukaku also cupped his ears in celebration.
"Overturn this," Belgium's social media accounts wrote over a photo of their forward.
Captain Youri Tielemans added: "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did."
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) had been incensed by FIFA going against protocol and suspending Balogun's ban for the game.
The US tournament top scorer with three goals had been sent off in the last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for a bad tackle, even though replays suggested it was accidental.
The RBFA said on Sunday it was "astonished" by the decision and said FIFA broke its own rules which it had frequently outlined before and during the tournament.
Belgium failed in an appeal to block Balogun playing and said it was "deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight ... in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole."
Former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn also got in the act of trolling FIFA, asking on social media if they could now replay the lost 2002 World Cup final against Brazil if Michael Ballack's suspension was annulled.
But German Football Federation president Bernd Neuerndorf underlined the seriousness of the issue and the shock felt by many in the game at FIFA's actions.
He said in a statement on Tuesday: "I agree with UEFA that this matter must not be closed, but must first be discussed further among the European football associations."
Source: Dpa-international.com
