Matches took place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Belgium won against the USA with a score of 4:1, and Spain defeated Portugal with a score of 1:0. Thanks to these results, Belgium and Spain advanced to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Spain vs. Portugal Match
The match between the Spanish and Portuguese national teams, which was held in Dallas, remained scoreless for a long time. Mikel Merino secured the victory for Spain by scoring a goal in the 90+1 minute, thus ending the game and concluding Portugal's participation in the championship.
USA vs. Belgium Match
In another Round of 16 match, the USA and Belgium teams took the field. The Belgians led 3:1. Charles De Ketelaere scored a brace in the 9th and 33rd minutes, and Hans Vanaken added the third goal in the 57th minute. The only US goal was scored by Malik Tillman in the 31st minute.
Player Disqualification Issue
One of the key events surrounding the game was the case involving American forward Folarin Balogun. He was supposed to be disqualified due to a red card received in a previous match. However, FIFA subsequently overturned the punishment and allowed the player to take the field against Belgium. Reports suggest this decision was made after negotiations between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.