Belgium's players celebrated their decisive 4-1 victory over the United States in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 not only with goals but also with a pointed dance, mimicking President Donald Trump's signature rally move. The celebration, featuring players swaying and moving their shoulders to the tune of "Y.M.C.A.," was also replicated in the team's locker room following the match on July 6, 2026, in Seattle.
The Belgian team's actions appeared to be a response to a controversial FIFA decision earlier in the week. FIFA had suspended U.S. striker Folarin Balogun for one match, a decision that was reportedly overturned following intervention from President Trump. The Belgian federation appealed the suspension but lost, with players citing the ruling as a source of extra motivation.
"We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch," said Belgian captain Youri Tielemans. "That's what we did today." Midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, who scored two goals in the game, admitted the ruling had "some impact on us" and "motivated us a little bit more."
Nicolas Raskin, another Belgian midfielder, stated more directly, "There's always justice somewhere in life." The team also posted a message on their official X account shortly after the game: "Overturn this."
As Belgium prepared for their quarterfinal match against Spain, the celebration remained a significant talking point. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois distanced himself from the festivities, stating he was undergoing a doping test and missed the locker room celebration. Left back Diego Moreira offered a more general comment on celebrations, saying, "There are different ways to celebrate different goals. You can do different dances, and that's what we've done. We just celebrated the win after the game."
Earlier in the tournament, Belgium had also expressed frustration with U.S. arrangements, requesting to relocate their training base from Loyola Marymount to the L.A. Galaxy facility in Carson, California, due to unsatisfactory standards at the initial site.
Despite the lingering controversy, Belgian coach Rudi Garcia and striker Romelu Lukaku declined to revisit the issue during a press conference leading up to their match against Spain. Garcia, when asked about potential hostility from the crowd, stated, "We just beat the U.S., obviously, in a match where everyone was against us. I don’t think the conditions will be any more difficult tomorrow. … It’s not the fans who score the goals, it’s the players."