Belgian World Cup players celebrated their victory over the United States by mocking President Donald Trump's signature dance in their locker room. The U.S. men's national team was eliminated from the World Cup after a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16.
Video footage from the Seattle Stadium locker room showed Belgian players, including Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Axel Witsel, and Alexis Saelemaekers, performing the twisting dance that President Trump popularized during his 2024 campaign. Even midfielder Amadou Onana, who was on crutches due to an apparent ACL injury, participated in the dance.
The mocking celebration came after a controversial lead-up to the match. President Trump had reportedly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card suspension that would have kept U.S. striker Folarin Balogun from playing. FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code and suspended Balogun's ban, allowing him to participate in the game.
Despite the successful appeal for Balogun's eligibility, he and the rest of the U.S. team were unable to overcome Belgium. The Belgian team viewed the overturned suspension as a potential instance of corruption, and their appeal against Balogun's eligibility was rejected by FIFA on Monday.
"To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure id est a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee's report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations," the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said in a statement. The RBFA had informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contested Balogun's eligibility.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed he received a call from President Trump regarding the matter. "Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," Infantino stated. He added that he explained the ongoing legal process within FIFA's independent judicial bodies.
Following the match, Balogun approached Belgium coach Rudi Garcia. "He came to talk to me. I really liked that," Garcia said. "It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame — and that's what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I appreciate this player."