Charles De Ketelaere described Belgium’s emphatic victory over the United States as the greatest moment of his football career after inspiring the Red Devils to a commanding 4-1 triumph in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.
The Atalanta forward produced a sensational display at Seattle Stadium, scoring twice in the opening half to send Rudi Garcia’s side into the quarter-finals with one of their most convincing performances of the tournament.
Facing tournament co-hosts USA in front of a passionate home crowd, Belgium showed composure, quality and attacking intent from the opening whistle.
While the Red Devils impressed collectively, it was De Ketelaere who stole the spotlight with a clinical display that justified his manager’s bold selection.
Garcia opted to start the 25-year-old ahead of experienced striker Romelu Lukaku, favouring his energy, movement and relentless pressing.
The decision proved inspired as De Ketelaere rewarded his coach’s confidence with two crucial goals before the break.
His first arrived after intelligent movement inside the penalty area allowed him to convert from close range and hand Belgium an early lead.
Although the USA briefly restored parity, De Ketelaere responded almost immediately by rising highest to power home a header, restoring Belgium’s advantage and shifting the momentum firmly back in the Europeans’ favour.
Hans Vanaken added a third goal after the interval before substitute Romelu Lukaku completed the scoring late in the match, sealing an impressive 4-1 victory that booked Belgium’s place in the last eight, where Spain now await in a mouthwatering quarter-final clash.
Beyond his brace, De Ketelaere delivered an outstanding all-round performance. His intelligent positioning, constant movement and ability to stretch the American defence created space for teammates throughout the contest, earning him the Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on the memorable evening, the Belgian forward admitted it represented the biggest achievement of his career.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to have produced a performance like this in the knockout stages; it’s really special. I’m thrilled that we’re through to the next round. This is definitely the highlight of my career so far.”
The forward also believes Belgium have every reason to approach the quarter-finals with renewed confidence after such a dominant display.
“There are so many positives to take away from this game both for the squad as a whole and for me personally, and we’ll be brimming with confidence going into the Spain match.”
Belgium’s impressive performance was also a tactical victory for head coach Rudi Garcia, who made several bold selection decisions before kick-off.
Alongside De Ketelaere’s inclusion, Garcia also handed starting roles to Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin ahead of established stars Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku.
The trio rewarded that faith with energetic performances that helped Belgium overwhelm the USA with relentless pressing, quick transitions and fluid attacking football.
Speaking after the match, Garcia insisted Belgium’s philosophy would remain unchanged regardless of the calibre of opposition they face in the knockout rounds.
“We’ll always look to play our own game rather than being defensive with a view to containing the opposition.”
That fearless approach has become Belgium’s trademark throughout the tournament, and their dominant display against the USA has further strengthened belief that they can challenge for the FIFA World Cup trophy.
With De Ketelaere producing the finest performance of his career and Belgium firing on all cylinders, the Red Devils now head into their quarter-final showdown against Spain full of confidence.
If they can replicate the intensity, quality and clinical finishing shown in Seattle, Garcia’s side will believe they have every chance of taking another major step towards World Cup glory.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
