Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said his team responded in the best possible way after defeating the United States 4-1 in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting Belgium made the hosts “pay” for underestimating them before the match.
The victory secured Belgium a place in the quarterfinals, where they will face Spain in one of the tournament’s biggest fixtures.
“We Made Them Pay”
Courtois said the American team and much of the pre-match discussion had shown a lack of respect toward Belgium by suggesting the hosts would win comfortably.
He stressed that Belgium answered those expectations with an impressive performance on the pitch and demonstrated that the team remains capable of competing at the highest level.
A Light-Hearted Response to the Balogun Debate
Ahead of the match, controversy surrounded the temporary suspension of Folarin Balogun’s ban, allowing him to be available.
Courtois reacted humorously to the discussion, saying he had read about the situation and found it amusing.
Senegal Were the Tougher Opponent
The Real Madrid goalkeeper added that he actually felt more confident before facing the United States than he did ahead of Belgium’s previous match against Senegal.
According to Courtois, Senegal posed a greater challenge than the United States, while emphasizing that Belgium’s primary objective was reaching the quarterfinals, with anything beyond that representing an added bonus for the team.
