From Balogun-gate to Trump’s call: Belgium’s fire burned brightest in Seattle

The Lumen Field in Seattle fell silent on Monday evening, local time. The deafening roar of the stadium, famed as the loudest in the US, was replaced by stunned shock. The Belgian Red Devils had just delivered a statement. “Do not cry, but answer on the pitch. We succeeded.” With fierce determination, the Red Devils overwhelmed the USA. Fuelled by Donald Trump’s reprehensible phone call and a speech from the injured Amadou Onana, Belgium turned the tables. “The Americans thought they would win easily…” Axel Brisart, football journalist with , captured the mood in the mixed zone after the match. An Italian colleague from *La dello Sport* told the Belgians: “I’m so happy for you guys. Well deserved.” A German counterpart added: “This is karma!” Even before kick-off, the world was already cheering for the Red Devils. The 1-4 scoreline confirmed what many suspected: Belgium had overpowered the USA. No one had predicted it beforehand. Nicolas Raskin framed the victory as one of mentality. “You can call the whole affair whatever you want, but it was unjust and simply not fair,” he said. “It motivated us and gave us that extra edge.” Dodi Lukebakio echoed the sentiment. “We didn’t understand why Balogun was suddenly allowed to play. But we didn’t dwell on it. ‘Do not cry, answer on the field’ — that was our mindset.” Axel Witsel declared: “Football prevailed today.”

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Thomas Meunier posted on Instagram: “This is a victory for integrity.” The Red Devils seized the Balogun affair to sharpen their focus, refusing to be distracted by frustration or anger. Captain Youri Tielemans, alongside standout performers Maxim De Cuyper and Nicolas Raskin, led the charge with interceptions, tackles, and second balls. The Belgians dominated every contest. Where mentality and intensity had been lacking in the group stage and the first 85 minutes against Senegal, it was now in abundance. As if the remarkable comeback in the round of 16 had triggered a turning point. Donald Trump’s call to FIFA president Infantino acted as an accelerant. But it was not the only source of extra motivation against the USA. Multiple Red Devils framed the win as “a victory for Amadou Onana.” The midfielder suffered a severe anterior cruciate ligament injury in the opening quarter-hour and collapsed in tears on the bench. “What happened to Ama hurt us deeply,” Raskin said. “He is very important to the group, on and off the pitch. A great guy. During halftime, he addressed the whole team in the dressing room. I won’t share what he said, but it was a heartfelt message. We are all there for him. *Tous ensemble.* And that helped us win the match.”

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Witsel added that “everyone was emotionally moved” by Onana’s speech, whose shirt was held aloft by Romelu Lukaku after the 1-4 scoreline. Crutches in hand and wearing a brace, Onana left the stadium. A long rehabilitation awaits. Yet seeing his family and the Belgian victory already brought a cautious smile to his face. Thibaut Courtois, the last Red Devil to walk through the mixed zone, delivered the final word. “They said they would win easily and that they were the big favorites. Well, we showed we are a strong team.” Next up: the quarter-final against Spain in Los Angeles. Hopefully, the Italian journalist will get to repeat those words there.