US ruthlessly mocked over ‘humiliating’ Belgium defeat after Trump crimson card row
The USA were the last of the co-hosts to be dumped out of the World Cup and were then mercilessly mocked by their opponents Belgium who told them: “Overturn this”
Romelu Lukaku cups his ears after scoring Belgium’s fourth to dump the US out of the World Cup(Image: Xinhua/Shutterstock)
The footballing world has stuck the boot in to the USA after they were dumped out of the World Cup by Belgium – despite Donald Trump asking FIFA to overturn a star player’s red card.
Striker Folarin Balogun, 25, started against the Red Devils despite a furious backlash over the US President’s interference. But he couldn’t stop his side being battered 4-1 by a rampant Belgium side who mocked Trump’s famous dance moves after their fourth goal.
The Belgium national team then got in on the act by posting a picture of striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption “overturn this”.
The Trump dance – in which he rocks his hips and slowly pumps his arms – was a feature of his 2024 Presidential campaign and was used as a celebration by US star Christian Pulisic after scoring against Jamaica in November that year.
One British footy fan dug out a tweet of the celebration and said simply: “Dance now, Pulisic.” And Iranian FA spokesperson this morning said: “Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics’ humiliating defeat by football.”
Another fan shared a photo of Lukaku cupping his ears in front of three despondent US fans decked out in red, white and blue and wrote: “Never seen a more beautiful sight.”
Elsewhere, someone shared a photo of Neil Warnock’s iconic rant during a documentary, with Trump’s head superimposed on a Millwall player and the caption: “Serves you right for f*****g Balogun that!”
British researcher Zoe Gardiner wrote: “Going out 4-1 after cheating and the whole country defending it on here. True MAGA levels of self humiliation.”
Even Americans were joining in. One wrote: “haven’t seen America this thoroughly embarrassed on the world stage since we lost that war we started with Iran like 3 weeks ago.”
Some even mocked Trump for his interference cursing the team after he wrongly predicted Kansas City Chiefs would win the Super Bowl, the New York Knicks losing the NBA play-off game he attended and Europe winning the Ryder Cup which he also attended.
Trump sparked fury when said he admitted he’d lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the US’s top scorer Balogun’s suspension after he was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said he “didn’t think it was a foul”.
Balogun would have missed the last 16 tie with Belgium, but his sending off was overturned despite the World Cup rules not allowing appeals for red cards. Fifa officials invoked the article 27 clause, which had never been used before in the tournament’s history.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia told reporters that Balogun “came to talk” after the game. He said: “I really liked that. It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame and that’s what I told him.” Belgium will play Spain in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles on Friday.
