Roma open the Champions League campaign with a creditable 1-1 draw away to Fenerbahce, as Bryan Cristante's opener was cancelled out by Archie Brown.
The Giallorossi returned to the tournament after seven years and coming off three consecutive Serie A victories. Only Lorenzo Pellegrini was still out of action. Devyne Rensch was back, with Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala and Matias Soulé.
Fenerbahce's last Champions League proper game was 18 years ago, but Matteo Guendouzi was suspended after insulting French fans during the fiery play-off with Lyon. Jayden Oosterwolde and Marco Asensio were injured, with ex-Serie A players Milan Skriniar, Romelu Lukaku and Mert Muldur in the squad, plus Mason Greenwood, who chose the Turkish side over Roma this summer.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – SEPTEMBER 10: A TIFO of Frankenstein's Monster is displayed by fans as players of AS Roma line up before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Fenerbahce SK and AS Roma at Fenerbahce Sükrü Saracoglu Spor Kompleksi on September 10, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

#league

After making a strong impression in Ligue 1 and Serie A, Rafael Leão is leaving Europe's top five leagues to move to Turkey.
The now former AC Milan winger has signed for Galatasaray for a transfer fee estimated at €38 million, according to the Istanbul club's statement. The Rossoneri are also said to have secured a 20% sell-on clause.
Long expected to join the Premier League, particularly Aston Villa, Leão was ultimately won over by Galatasaray's sporting and financial arguments.
Voted Serie A's best player in 2022, the Portuguese dribbling specialist joins the growing list of stars who have chosen to move to the Süper Lig this year, including N'Golo Kanté, Romelu Lukaku, Mohamed Salah, Leandro Trossard, and Dušan Vlahović.
Leão leaves AC Milan behind with a mixed legacy: that of a dynamic and likeable forward, but one too often plagued by inconsistency.

#turkey #galatasaray #istanbul

Matteo Guendouzi was attacked by furious Lyon players and fans after sparking a mass brawl in a chaotic Champions League tie.
The fiery French midfielder claimed "disrespect" and insults towards his family throughout the match, given his affiliation to Lyon's fierce rivals Marseille, where he spent three seasons.
The 27-year-old let out relief at the final whistle, celebrating wildly, lifting his arms and taunting the fans in the stands before dozens of players and staff rushed towards the player in a chaotic brawl.
The Champions League play-off second leg saw the Turkish giants prevail on the night at Lyon's Groupama Stadium, advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the league phase, with the draw taking place later on Thursday.
Guendouzi was supported by some of his Fenerbahce team-mates, including Romelu Lukaku and former Man City goalkeeper Ederson.

#guendouzi #champions #fans #chaotic

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge. Serie A giants Napoli are making a concerted push to sign Marc Guiu, tabling a €16 million bid for the Chelsea striker, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Guiu has emerged as Napoli's top target to replace Romelu Lukaku, who recently joined Fenerbahce.
While Napoli are offering €16m, Chelsea reportedly value Guiu at closer to €29m. The Blues signed the striker from Barcelona's La Masia in 2024 for €6m, meaning even a deal near Napoli's bid would represent a significant profit.
The 20-year-old was initially loaned to Chelsea last summer, but was recalled early after Liam Delap's injury.
However, Guiu struggled for regular minutes and made just one league start throughout the campaign.

#napoli #striker #alonso #stamford

Manchester United are reportedly tracking Ivan Toney and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who could become options should Joshua Zirkzee leave.
Although we're less than two weeks away from the end of the summer transfer window, Zirkzee's future remains unclear.
The Dutchman is considering a mere back-up for Benjamin Sesko, and even with the Slovenian's absence, Michael Carrick could still opt to deploy either Matheus Cunha or Bryan Mbeumo in the striker role.
For the past 18 months or so, Zirkzee has been linked with a return to Italian football. Last January, Roma were close to signing the 25-year-old, but in recent weeks, Juventus emerged as the player's most likely destination, which isn't a total coincidence, given how former Roma director Ricky Massara moved to Turin earlier this summer.
Moreover, Napoli are said to be considered a late-summer target for Zirkzee after selling Romelu Lukaku. This would reunite the former Bologna star with fellow Man Utd struggler Rasmus Hojlund, who managed to revive his career in Southern Italy.

#united #jean

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge with the Blues. Chelsea and Napoli are in contact over a potential transfer for striker Nicolas Jackson, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Napoli manager Max Allegri has made signing a new striker his top priority for the final weeks of the transfer window. Following Romelu Lukaku's permanent move to Fenerbahce, Napoli are keen to add depth and competition for Rasmus Hojlund. Alongside exploratory enquiries for ***** nal's Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, Jackson has emerged as a highly feasible and attractive option for the Partenopei.
Chelsea are open to selling the Senegal international, provided their steep valuation is met. Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan at German champions Bayern Munich, but they opted not to make the deal permanent. Since returning to West London, Jackson's place in Xabi Alonso's plans is uncertain, especially after being omitted from Chelsea's final pre-season fixtures.
With the Blues keen to trim their squad and generate funds, Chelsea have placed a £65 million price tag on the forward. Napoli's entry into the race could prove highly beneficial for the Blues, as it threatens to spark a genuine bidding war.
Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have all monitored Jackson's situation this summer, but so far, interested parties have been reluctant to meet Chelsea's asking price.

#napoli #final #keen

Midweek action is here. MLS games are available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, in addition to any other options listed. All kickoff times are in EST. Let's get into it!
No notable USA players in action.
Fenerbahçe vs Lyon, 3p on Paramount+, DAZN: Tanner Tessmann and Olympique Lyonnais meet Turkish club Fenerbahçe in Champions League qualifying. They will play a second leg back in France. Fenerbahçe's squad features a lot of big names: N'Golo Kanté, Romelu Lukaku, Ederson, Marco Asensio, Mason Greenwood, Nathan Aké, Milan Skriniar, Mattéo Guendouzi, Nélson Semedo, and Caglar Söyüncü.
Atlético Madrid vs Málaga, 3p on ESPN+, ESPN Deportes, Fubo: Johnny Cardoso and Atléti open their La Liga campaign against Málaga.
Celtic vs LASK Linz, 3p on Paramount+, TUDN, ViX: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic are up against George Bello, Samuel Adeniran, and Austrian champions LASK in Champions League qualifying.

#action #qualifying

Romelu Lukaku has officially been sold to Fenerbahce by Napoli for a reported cost of €6m plus add-ons, flying out this evening to Istanbul.
The deal had been done earlier this week and it is reported he underwent medical tests in Belgium, which is where he remained following the 2026 World Cup campaign.
He is therefore flying directly to Istanbul from Brussels, without going back to Italy or Naples.
VERONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Romelu Lukaku of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the Serie A match between ****** as Verona FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on February 28, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The sale was confirmed by statements on both the Napoli and Fenerbahce websites this evening.

#italy #fenerbahce #istanbul

Napoli want a statement signing, and Gabriel Jesus has moved from fantasy to something far more concrete. According to Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Brazilian forward is firmly on the Italian club's radar as they look to sharpen their attack and restore momentum ahead of a season built around high expectations.
The logic is straightforward. Napoli have spent heavily already, with £86.5 million committed to permanent deals for Rasmus Hojlund, Alisson Santos and Lorenzo Lucca. That is proper money, even in a market where clubs often behave as though accounting is optional. The issue now is balance. Napoli still need sales, and those sales are dictating the pace of everything.
This is where the Gabriel Jesus transfer story becomes interesting for **** nal as well as Napoli. The report states that **** nal have not yet contacted the player to discuss a renewal, even though his current contract expires in 2027. In transfer terms, that matters. Clubs do not need to panic with two years left, but they do need clarity. If there is no obvious long-term plan, buyers start circling and the player starts considering alternatives.
Napoli's move is tied closely to Romelu Lukaku's expected departure. The Belgian has reportedly reached an agreement with Fenerbahce, with the two clubs still needing to settle the fee. Napoli had initially wanted £12 million, but the piece suggests they may accept £7 million to £8 million including bonuses. That is a sizeable drop, but this is what happens when a sale becomes part of a bigger mechanism. They want room, wages off the books and a clear run at their real target.
The other outgoing mentioned is Noa Lang, who is attracting interest from Ajax after PSG pushed ahead on a move for Mika Godts. Napoli want £30 million for Lang, though the report suggests £25 million plus bonuses could be enough. Again, this is not random. If Lukaku and Lang move, Napoli create the financial and tactical **** e to go hard for Gabriel Jesus.

#lang

Reports from various sources in Italy claim that Turkish giants Fenerbahce have reached an agreement over a transfer fee for Napoli centre-forward Romelu Lukaku.
According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, Gianluca Di Marzio and various others, Napoli have agreed to sell Lukaku to Fenerbahce at a fee of €6m plus bonuses.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 01: Romelu Lukaku #9 of Belgium reacts after scoring the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
Lukaku originally joined Napoli at a cost of €30m plus bonuses from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, going on to help the Partenopei towards the Serie A **** le at the end of that season. He is now into the final 12 months of the three-year contract that he signed in the summer of 2024 and is no longer a guaranteed starter at the Stadio Maradona following last summer's signing of Rasmus Hojlund.
According to reports from Sky, the Belgian has already passed part of his medical examinations with Fenerbahce and is now expected to fly over to Istanbul in the near future.

#lukaku #napoli

A year ago, they were three of the main faces of Serie A. Today, Romelu Lukaku, Dusan Vlahovic and Rafael Leao are facing a scenario that would have been unthinkable just a few months ago: move to Turkey to remain key players, or accept a backup role in Europe's biggest leagues.
Follow Napoli's pre-season training camp up close! The friendly against Aris Thessaloniki will be broadcast live on OneFootball! Click here to check the match schedule and how to watch.
Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Galatasaray are ready to welcome them as superstars.
The big clubs in the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, on the other hand, seem willing to take them only under very different conditions: lower wages, more competition and no guarantees of a starting spot.
An unthinkable scenario for three players of their caliber, all of them standout stars in the Italian league.

#players #romelu #lukaku

Serie A Napoli face a roadblock in their attempt to sign ******* nal forward Gabriel Jesus this summer.
According to today's edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport via Calcio Napoli 24, Napoli's interest in acquiring the services of ******* nal man Gabriel Jesus on a loan deal ahead of the new season cannot proceed due to the Brazilian's contract tenure with the Premier League champions.
The Partenopei have entered the market to search for a striker following Romelu Lukaku's decision to leave the club. Jesus has been eyed by sporting director Giovanni Manna as the potential successor to the Belgian, but they must consider the external factors that will determine a transfer.
Jesus has only one year left on his current contract with ******* nal, and therefore, he cannot leave on a season-long loan spell elsewhere. While he will be available to speak for a free transfer with any club in January, Napoli cannot wait that long to materialise his signing.
Another problem is Jesus' salary at ******* nal, where he earns €9 million net per season. Napoli cannot afford this figure right now, and will be required to speak to the player directly to lower it to agree on personal terms before they approach the Gunners for a possible transfer.

#arsenal #gabriel

Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to be part of the Napoli project under new head coach Massimiliano Allegri and the latest reports indicate that MLS side Atlanta United are interested in picking up Belgium's all-time record goalscorer.
Lukaku is into the final year of his contract with Napoli having joined on a three-year deal from Chelsea during the summer of 2024. He went on to play a major role on Napoli's route to the 2024-25 Scudetto but was limited to just five league appearances in an injury-ridden campaign in 2025-26.
The 33-year-old is no longer a guaranteed starter at the Stadio Maradona, particularly with Rasmus Hojlund in the equation, and his agent has recently made it clear that the Belgian "isn't the kind of person who stays where he's not wanted."
Now, according to reports from Belgian expert Sacha Tavolieri, MLS side Atlanta United are 'pushing hard' in an attempt to sign Lukaku from Napoli this summer.
Talks between the relevant parties are reportedly already underway and Lukaku has supposedly given his approval to a move away from Napoli this summer, but at this stage, negotiations are still at an 'early stage'.

#summer #atlanta #united #stage

Romelu Lukaku is about to return from his post-World Cup vacations, and the conversations to sort out his Napoli future, involving also Massimiliano Allegri, will ramp up. The parties are distant from finding a solution, Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The striker has no plans to spend a campaign backing up Rasmus Hojlund, who was recently bought out for over €40M. The new Partenopei gaffer has exclusively rehearsed schemes featuring just one striker so far. The gaffer has frequently utilized 3-5-2 in his career, but they have a few wingers to employ.
Napoli can't give Lukaku the prominent role he aspires to. At the same time, they have no interest in keeping a reserve with a €11M gross salary. The center-forward seemed surely destined to leave after last season's events, but he had changed his tune earlier in the summer.
The Azzurri suggested extending his contract to dilute his wages to make them more manageable, but they were rebuffed. His exit isn't easy to orchestrate, considering his age, demands, injury history, and €10/12M valuation. The side aims to avoid a loss on its balance sheet. The team is hoping his performances across the pond will help in that regard. He wasn't a full-time starter for Belgium, but still made his presence felt with three goals and one ******* ist.
He's proven he can be dangerous in small doses, but the club also has to weigh other stuff, especially the economic side. Everything points toward an exit, with perhaps Saudi Arabia or the MLS coming to the rescue, if the Azzurri aren't too rigid on his price tag. But, as often happens with him, it'll get messy first.

#striker #time #exit #side

Aston Villa are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as they try to register Brian Madjo, who joined from Metz for £10m in January and does not turn 18 until January next year.
Under-18s cannot complete international transfers, but Villa have argued Madjo was born in London and should be exempt, despite having three caps for Luxembourg.
Fifa does allow some exemptions for minor players to make moves, including if a 16 or 17-year-old transfers within the European Union - something the UK is no longer part of.
At 6ft 4in, Madjo has already been compared to Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and his leveller against Real Sociedad to make it 2-2 after 56 minutes was simple enough but showed a predatory instinct.
He was a handful for Real, with strength and power unsettling the visiting defenders and, with Ollie Watkins still on a break following England's World Cup campaign and Tammy Abraham returning from a shoulder issue, Madjo has the chance to impress.

#january #real #transfers #aston

Romelu Lukaku's agent Federico Pastorello says the Belgian striker cannot be a back-up at Napoli: 'He isn't the kind of person who stays where he's not wanted.'
Pastorello spoke to Sky Sport Italia on Friday night, discussing his client's situation at Napoli.
Lukaku is about to begin his third season at the Stadio Maradona, but has less than a year left in his contract.
He only played 64 minutes of football at a club level in 2025-26, mostly due to a serious muscle injury he suffered during the pre-season.
Asked whether Lukaku would accept being a Napoli reserve in 2026-27, Pastorello replied: "Obviously not. He's an extraordinary player, and he's proved it. He's one of the most prolific strikers in the world. It's hard for us to accept a situation like that.

#accept #federico

Fairytale goodbyes are a rarity in football.
Belgium's 2-1 defeat by Spain in the quarter-finals of the World Cup is likely to have marked the final bow of the four remaining members of the Red Devils' golden generation.
Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel have been mainstays of the national team since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but their final chance of winning football's biggest prize ended with a mistake from one of their successors.
The injured Courtois, replaced midway through the second half, could only watch as Senne Lammens spilled an 88th-minute shot and ***** nal's Mikel Merino tucked home the rebound.
"Lammens doesn't cover himself in any glory. He didn't make a mistake for Manchester United last year but this is another pressure," said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Thibaut Courtois said he was proud of Belgium's fabled "Golden Generation" on Friday as their final shot at winning a major **** le ended in a World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain.
Courtois was forced to watch from the bench as the sun set on the World Cup careers of veteran team-mates such as Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku at the SoFi Stadium.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois, 34, De Bruyne, 35, and Lukaku, 33, were part of the lavishly talented crop of Belgian players that rose to the pinnacle of FIFA's rankings for multiple years at different times over the past decade.
But a gifted player pool that also included Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany and Marouane Fellaini came up short in major tournaments, with their best performance a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.
Friday's agonising 2-1 loss, which followed a blunder by substitute goalkeeper Senne Lammens after Courtois came off injured in the 71st minute, marked a familiar story for Belgium.

Fairytale goodbyes are a rarity in football.
Belgium's 2-1 defeat by Spain in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup likely marked the final bow of the four remaining members of the Red Devils' golden generation.
Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel have been mainstays of the national team since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but their final chance of winning football's biggest prize ended with a mistake from one of their successors.
The injured Courtois, replaced midway through the second half, could only watch as 24-year-old Senne Lammens spilled an 88th-minute shot and Mikel Merino tucked home the rebound.
"Lammens doesn't cover himself in any glory. He didn't make a mistake for Man United last year but this is another pressure," said Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Why Romelu Lukaku isn't playing today for Belgium vs. Spain in World Cup quarterfinal starting 11 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Romelu Lukaku remains on the bench.
The Belgium legend scored the exclamation point goal against the United States in the World Cup Round of 16, but he isn't starting against Spain in the quarterfinal round.
It's not a shock in reality, but it's still notable.
Lukaku has scored more goals than any player in Belgium history. But if he makes an impact on Friday, it'll be as a substitute.

Where to watch Spain vs. Belgium live stream, TV channel, start time for World Cup quarterfinal match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Spain's stingy defense meets Belgium's red-hot attack when the two sides collide in the World Cup quarterfinals, pitting an impenetrable force against a nearly unstoppable one.
Spain punched its ticket with a 91st-minute Mikel Merino winner over Portugal and still hasn't allowed a goal through the tournament, making it the first team to reach the quarterfinals without conceding since Italy in 1990. La Roja is chasing a return to the semifinals for the first time since its 2010 ***** le run, having failed to get past the Round of 16 in the two tournaments since.
Belgium, meanwhile, is riding a wave of momentum after routing the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16, a game in which Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and Romelu Lukaku and Hans Vanaken each added a goal. The Red Devils have scored at least three goals in three straight matches and sit third in the tournament with 13 total, behind only France and Argentina's 14 apiece.
It's Belgium's first quarterfinal appearance since a third-place finish in 2018, and they're eyeing another step toward a first-ever World Cup ***** le.

What time is Spain vs. Belgium? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for World Cup 2026 quarterfinal match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Spain's stingy defense goes up against Belgium's red-hot attack in a World Cup quarterfinal clash between an impenetrable force and a nearly unstoppable one.
Spain is chasing its first semifinal berth since winning it all in 2010, punching its ticket with a 91st-minute Mikel Merino winner over Portugal. La Roja still haven't conceded a goal all tournament and became the first team to reach this stage to do so since Italy in 1990.
Belgium arrives just as hot, having routed the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16 behind a two-goal game from Charles De Ketelaere and single tallies from Romelu Lukaku and Hans Vanaken, extending a streak of three straight matches with three-plus goals.
It's Belgium's first quarterfinal since a third-place finish in 2018, and they're looking to push toward a first-ever World Cup ***** le, though the history is lopsided: Spain is 5-0 all-time against Belgium, including a 5-0 rout in 2009 World Cup qualifying.

Leandro Trossard has created more chances than any other player at this World Cup. Two goals, two ******* ists, and a level of consistency ******* ody expected from Belgium’s supporting cast now sit alongside the more familiar names of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne on the team sheet. As Belgium prepare to face Spain in Friday’s quarter-final in Los Angeles, the ******* nal winger has quietly become the player his team-mates rely on most.
Belgium reached this stage by beating the United States 4-1 in the round of 16, a scoreline built on two first-half headers from Charles De Ketelaere, the second of which came from a Trossard cross that hung in the air long enough for the Atalanta forward to nod home at the back post. Hans Vanaken and Lukaku added second-half goals to complete the win. It was Belgium’s most comfortable performance of the tournament, arriving straight after a last-32 tie against Senegal they very nearly lost.
Belgium’s route to the quarter-finals has swung between crisis and control. They drew their first two group games against Egypt and Iran before beating New Zealand 5-1 to finish top of Group G. Then, in the last 32 against Senegal, they found themselves two goals down with four minutes left, only to score twice and win with a goal in the 125th minute of extra time. The performance against the USA that followed was a different animal entirely, routine from an early stage and settled well before half-time.
That contrast counts for a great deal heading into a quarter-final against a Spain side that has conceded nothing at this World Cup. Belgium cannot expect Spain to offer the ******* e that Senegal or the USA did in Belgium’s most productive spells. Whatever margin for error existed against those two opponents will not exist on Friday.
Before this tournament, Trossard’s international career had been steady rather than spectacular. Five games into the World Cup, he has scored twice, set up two more, and created more chances than any other player at the tournament. Against the USA, his cross for De Ketelaere’s second goal was typical of the service he has provided all summer, delivered with enough precision that a header was the only finishing touch required.

The United States men's national team is out of its own World Cup, and the manner of the exit — a 4-1 blowout to a Belgium side that started Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench — has reopened the same question that follows every American World Cup cycle. Is any of this going to stick?
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in the first half in Seattle on Monday and set up a third. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth late. It was the USMNT's fourth Round of 16 exit in the last five World Cups it has actually qualified for, and it happened on home soil, with the suspended red card of striker Folarin Balogun barely making it back in time to matter.
"It feels exactly the same," Tyler Adams said, adding that the tournament had its positives but that ultimately "it just doesn't feel like it matters."
Christian Pulisic became the face of that frustration by Monday night. He was pulled midway through the second half with an ankle injury, closing out a tournament in which he'd already missed one match and left two others early. FS1's Nick Wright wasn't interested in the injury excuse, calling it "unacceptable" for the team's most talented player to disappear in the biggest game of his career, whatever else went wrong around him. Pulisic himself brushed the exit off as a sprained ankle in his post-match interview with Fox's Jenny Taft, saying only that he now had time to rest before adding, more broadly, that the U.S. still has "that next step to climb" against the best teams in the world.
That's the soccer conversation. The more interesting one, at least for anyone who covers sports media, is what happens to the audience now that the team everyone was watching is gone.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals are here as the last eight battle for football's biggest prize.
The quarter-finals are perhaps the stage where anything feels possible, with the remaining teams now just two wins from a place in the final. Ahead of the last-eight ties, we've looked at how the bookmakers ******* s the favourites to become world champions.
After falling short in the last 16 in three consecutive World Cups, the Swiss squeezed past Colombia on penalties to reach the last eight for only the second time.
It's Switzerland's first quarter-final appearance since 1954, though they have reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship in each of the last two tournaments. Outsiders, no doubt, but certainly capable ahead of facing Argentina next.
Belgium's 'Golden Generation' passed without silverware, as a talented team featuring Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, and more fell just short of big prizes. The last remnants of that team remain, with Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne leading a new wave of talent.

After all the controversy involving Donald Trump, the Belgium players were sure to let him know how they felt during the celebrations.
It was always going to be an uphill battle for the USMNT to get a result with Belgium after the controversy that unfolded with Folarin Balogun.
Despite not having the strongest of rosters that we’ve seen over the years, Belgium still have superstars like Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku.
That quality shone through on the field, as the USA and Mauricio Pochettino had no answer.
But to make matters worse, the whole nation was turned into a laughing stock, with the Belgium players doing the Donald Trump dance to celebrate their fourth goal, as well as mocking the USA on X after the win.

SEATTLE (AP) — Shortly after Romelu Lukaku scored the goal that capped a commanding 4-1 win over the United States, Belgium's all-time leading goal scorer held his right hand to his ear.
On American soil, and in the aftermath of star U.S. forward Folarin Balogun being permitted to play after a one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, Lukaku egged on the crowd of 66,925 at Lumen Field. The Red Devils then took to social media to poke more fun in light of what they considered no laughing matter, posting above the photo the words: "Overturn this."
"There's always a justice somewhere in life," Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin said. "The fact that something happened like that, we don't think that was fair. And today, I think it just brings us a little bit of (motivation) that we needed to win the game."
The Belgian soccer federation wanted an explanation from FIFA about the decision to let Balogun play. Many of Belgium's players, though, insisted they didn't need any additional motivation for Monday's match.
Belgium extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games, and knocked out the U.S. in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years.

The USMNT proved to be no match for Belgium in the Round of 16 match between the two sides.
Even before the game, most fans believed the USMNT had no chance of defeating Belgium in the knockout stages, but fans expected to see at least some competition from the hosts.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case as Belgium registered a dominant 4-1 win over the Americans. In fact, they also rubbed salt into the wounds after Romelu Lukaku's goal in stoppage time.
After coming as a substitute, Lukaku delivered the final blow to the Americans with a goal in the 93rd minute of the game.
Following the goal, multiple Belgian players gathered around the corner flag and performed the viral Donald Trump dance.

Belgium's players appeared to mock Donald Trump with the president's trademark dance after knocking the United States out of the World Cup.
The USA were comfortably second best in Seattle as the co-hosts exited the tournament with a sluggish display that saw them beaten 4-1.
The build-up to the round of 16 encounter had been overshadowed by Trump's apparent role in the suspending of a one-match ban for striker Folarin Balogun, who had been sent off in the win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
And Belgium appeared to delight in overcoming the USA and Balogun, who started in Seattle, taking a couple of digs at the president as they celebrated reaching the quarter-finals.
Several of their squad appeared to mimic the "Trump dance", popularised by the president during his successful 2024 presidential campaign, after Romelu Lukaku scored their fourth goal in stoppage time. USA forward Christian Pulisic had previously celebrated a goal against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League with the dance.

The upside?
This World Cup is now all about Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Spain's clean sheets, Harry Kane's Grover voice and the rest. No more arguments about eligibility. The Article 27-era lasted 30 or so hours, and is now hopefully shut down for good.
On an extraordinary Monday that saw a President, Secretary of State, Senator, and others weigh in on the affairs of FIFA, Europe's soccer governing body cry foul, soccer insiders and pundits wonder whether the rule of soccer law had taken a back seat to the cozy relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and Americans once divide themselves into corners thanks to a decision made by their President, Belgium knocked off the United States, 4-1, in a Round of 16 affair in Seattle, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that even with Folarin Balogun in the lineup, the Americans weren't ready to move on and make history.
On a day that started with Trump confirming that he indeed called Infantino to inquire about the review process for Balogun's red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Infantino screaming into the wind that FIFA's evocation of Article 27, which gives itself the authority to suspend disciplinary matters and thus reinstate Balogun for the Belgium game, was a completely, totally independent decision, regardless of political pressure, ended with the United States coming out of the gates inexplicably laggard, and making far too many mistakes against another European soccer stalwart all too happy to show off its supremacy, on America's soil.
"Overturn this," the Belgium soccer federation wrote on X, with a picture of Romelu Lukaku celebrating his late goal that not only ended all U.S. hope, but certified the contest, after all the hype and hubbub, as a blowout. Belgium's players did the Trump dance to celebrate.