The United States has become the third and final co-host to be knocked out of the World Cup after a heavy defeat by Belgium.

Charles de Ketelaere scored twice as the European side secured a comfortable 4-1 victory, ending American hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

The exit follows a largely lethargic display by the US, who had star striker Folarin Balogun back in their starting line-up following a highly controversial intervention from President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump had asked FIFA to review Balogun’s suspension following a red card in the previous round. The world governing body responded by extraordinarily suspending the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, but the forward was left largely isolated as Belgium dominated from the start.

Belgium Dominance

The match was barely nine minutes old when Belgium took the lead. Nicolas Raskin drove a low pass across the face of the goal, leaving De Ketelaere with a simple tap-in.

The home side found a lifeline in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman’s free-kick took a wicked deflection off Belgium’s Hans Vanaken to level the score.

However, the parity lasted just two minutes:

• 33rd Minute: De Ketelaere restored the Belgian lead, rising highest to head home a cross from Leandro Trossard.
• Second Half: A defensive blunder gifted Belgium their third. Hesitant US goalkeeper Matt Freese was tackled by De Ketelaere, allowing Vanaken to side-foot the loose ball into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area.
• Stoppage Time: Substitute Romelu Lukaku completed the rout in the 93rd minute, slotting a low shot into the far corner from a tight angle.

A European Quarter-final

The exit means the US joins fellow co-hosts Mexico and Canada on the sidelines, leaving the tournament without a home nation in the final rounds.

Belgium has now advanced to the last eight, where they will face Spain in a highly anticipated all-European clash in Los Angeles on Friday. Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals on Monday evening with a 1-0 victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.