Belgium have eliminated the United States from the 2026 FIFA World Cup , delivering a commanding 4-1 victory in Seattle to end the host nation's tournament hopes on Tuesday. Hours earlier, Spain secured their own place in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal in Arlington, Texas — bringing down the curtain on Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career in the process.

The results confirm that all three co-host nations — the United States, Mexico and Canada — have now been eliminated from the tournament. Mexico fell to England in the round of 16, Canada were beaten by Morocco, and now the Americans have followed them out the door.

Belgium dismantle the USA in Seattle

Belgium were the sharper, more aggressive side from the outset, and their willingness to press the United States yielded rich rewards. They scored against the run of play early on, caught the Americans off guard, and gradually built a lead that proved insurmountable.

The contest turned decisively in Belgium's favour when a goalkeeping error gifted them their third goal. US keeper Matt Freese came out of his box to claim the ball but lost the contest with Charles De Ketelaere, who nudged it aside to allow Hans Vanaken to slot home and put Belgium ahead 3-1. It was a damaging mistake at a critical moment, and it was difficult to see a path back for the home side after that.

Belgium had led 2-1 at half-time, with the United States briefly drawing level via a deflected free kick before the visitors reclaimed the advantage. The second half saw Belgium continue to dominate, and any lingering American hope was extinguished in stoppage time when Romelu Lukaku added a fourth, sending the ball sailing past a helpless Freese to seal a 4-1 win in the 93rd minute.

Substitutes Alexis Saelemaekers and Axel Witsel came on late as Belgium managed the closing stages, while the US — through Sebastian Berhalter — showed some fight in the final minutes but could not convert. Balogun also had a late effort saved by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois .

The defeat raises uncomfortable questions about the United States' preparation. The tournament had been overshadowed by the controversy surrounding striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension — and the subsequent political noise around it — just days before the Belgium fixture. Whether that saga proved a distraction, or Belgium simply outclassed the Americans, the result was unambiguous. You can read more about the political furore that preceded this match here.

Belgium now advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain in Los Angeles on Saturday morning (kick-off 5am AEST).

Spain end Ronaldo's World Cup career in Arlington thriller

In what was billed as a generational clash, Spain met Portugal at the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium in Arlington before a crowd of 70,649 . The match — featuring the 41-year-old Ronaldo at one end and 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal at the other — largely failed to live up to its spectacular billing, though it produced a dramatic conclusion.

Spain had the better of the early exchanges. Mikel Oyarzabal spurned a golden chance inside 10 minutes, pulling his shot wide with only goalkeeper Diogo Costa to beat. Yamal and Álex Baena both tested Costa, with the keeper producing a fine fingertip save from the latter. Portugal skipper Ronaldo — jeered and cheered in equal measure — stung the palms of Spanish keeper Unai Simón from a tight angle, his most meaningful contribution of the night.

Portugal grew into the match as the half progressed and came inches from scoring when a Nuno Mendes effort was redirected onto the crossbar by Spanish full-back Pedro Porro — an extraordinarily close escape for Spain. Mendes then suffered an injury and was forced off after 56 minutes, further disrupting Portugal's rhythm.

The game remained goalless and was drifting towards extra time — a fitting parallel to the tense 2022 FIFA World Cup knockout stage, which also produced several nervy late finales — when substitute Ferran Torres played in fellow substitute Mikel Merino in the first minute of injury time. The Arsenal midfielder finished with composure to give Spain a 1-0 win and send the stadium into disarray.

Portugal coach Roberto Martínez had made double substitutions at the 71st and 83rd-minute marks but kept faith with Ronaldo until the final whistle — a last act of respect for the man who had confirmed on the eve of the match that this would be his final World Cup appearance. Now 41 and playing club football in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo ends his World Cup career without the ultimate prize.

For Ronaldo, who has long courted controversy as much as admiration throughout his career, the exit was a quiet one — no goals, no defining moment, just the final chapter of a World Cup story that began back in 2006.

What happens next

Spain remain the only side in the tournament yet to concede a goal and will carry the status of favourites into Saturday's quarter-final against Belgium in Los Angeles. Despite winning the World Cup only once — in 2010 — Spain's form in this tournament marks them as a formidable proposition for any remaining side.

Portugal, meanwhile, must now contemplate a future without Ronaldo at the World Cup, while the United States and its football community will reflect on a home tournament that ended with a thumping defeat and a week of off-field distraction.