Rudi Garcia thanks Belgium fans after dominant win over USA

SEATTLE: Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia paid tribute to the nation's supporters after his side secured an emphatic 4-1 victory over the United States in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 here at Seattle Stadium on Monday, thanking fans who stayed up through the night to cheer on the Red Devils.

Belgium produced a commanding display to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain after the Europeans defeated Portugal 1-0 earlier in the day.

Reflecting on the performance, Garcia reserved special praise for the Belgian supporters, who followed the match despite the late-night kick-off back home.

"To everyone who got up in the middle of the night to support us, I'd like to say a huge thank you. They should be happy and proud of their players today. We showed that Belgium is a great football nation," Garcia said.

Belgium took control of the contest early through Charles De Ketelaere before responding immediately after Malik Tillman's equaliser, with De Ketelaere restoring the lead less than a minute later.

Hans Vanaken extended the advantage in the second half before substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the victory in stoppage time.

The result also marked the end of the United States' World Cup campaign, meaning all three tournament co-hosts the USA, Canada and Mexico have now been eliminated.

Garcia praised his players for maintaining their composure throughout the encounter and producing an assured display against a determined American side.

Belgium's convincing win continues their impressive run in the tournament and sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Spain on Friday, with Garcia hoping his team can build on the confidence gained from their dominant Round of 16 performance as they chase a place in the last four.