Belgium’s savage ‘Trump dance’ as world ridicules USA after World Cup exit: ‘Maybe the White House calls tomorrow’

Belgium's Viral 'Trump Dance' Marks USA's Exit from World Cup, Sparking Global Jokes

Belgium s savage Trump dance as world - The United States' World Cup journey took a dramatic turn in the past two days as their hopes of advancing past the Round-of-16 were dashed by a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the 2026 tournament. Co-hosts of the event had reason to be optimistic after securing a spot in the knockout stages, with Tim Ream’s team delivering a strong performance to reach the last 16. That optimism was briefly shaken when reports tied U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun, but the mood rebounded after FIFA reversed the suspension, allowing the striker to participate in the showdown against Belgium in Seattle.

Belgium’s victory not only eliminated the co-hosts from the competition but also ignited a wave of humor and criticism from global football media. The team’s post-match celebration, led by Romelu Lukaku, featured a reenactment of the "Trump dance"—a gesture mimicking the U.S. leader’s signature moves at political rallies. While the dance had already spread across social media, Belgium’s interpretation was clearly directed at the controversy surrounding Balogun’s reinstatement.

Mockery and Political Jokes Flood Media Outlets

Belgium’s social media account immediately seized on the moment, posting “Overturn this” after the final whistle, a message that quickly went viral. The nation’s football commentators and broadcasters followed suit, with some adding sharp political humor to the mix. A Turkish TV commentator quipped, “USA is out of the World Cup… unless there’s a last-minute change.”

“Overturn this” instantly went viral after Belgium's official social media account posted the message at the final whistle.

Croatian media echoed similar skepticism, suggesting, “Belgium won, but let’s wait… maybe tomorrow morning when we wake up, a call from the White House comes in.” Even Belgium’s own coverage joined the fun, with a VAR review commentary stating, “Here are the VAR officials. And, of course, you can add Donald Trump from the White House.”

“Here are the VAR officials. And, of course, you can add Donald Trump from the White House.”

Meanwhile, an Iranian Football Federation spokesperson remarked the following day, “Now the whole world is dancing to celebrate politics' humiliating defeat by football.”

Balogun’s suspension initially stemmed from a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, resulting in an automatic one-match ban. However, FIFA deferred the punishment under Article 27, placing him on a one-year probationary period. This allowed him to face Belgium while retaining the disciplinary mark. Trump later claimed he had requested a review of the decision.

Belgium had reacted strongly to FIFA’s ruling before the game. The Belgian Football Association called the decision “astonishing,” and head coach Rudi Garcia compared it to an April Fool’s joke. Yet, after securing a quarter-final spot, Garcia downplayed the incident’s impact on his team’s focus.

“No, it wasn’t necessary at all,” Garcia said when asked whether he had used the controversy to inspire his players.

“What really mattered to us was our game plan. We wanted to dominate the game, avoid their pressing and play higher up. We played with mastery, willingness and dedication. It was a great night for us and a great qualification for the quarter-finals.”

“He came to talk to me. I really liked that. He's not the one to blame, and that's exactly what I told him. I really appreciate that he came to see me,” Garcia said.