Thibaut Courtois once again became the answer standing between Belgium and the United States, and this time the finish was far less dramatic than their 2014 meeting. Belgium’s goalkeeper barely had to deal with pressure for long stretches in Seattle, while the Americans managed only two shots on goal all night.
Malik Tillman briefly leveled the match with a free kick, but Belgium responded with three unanswered goals and closed the door on the U.S. run at the World Cup. Courtois’ biggest moment came late, when Folarin Balogun broke free down the left in the 82nd minute and forced a save that ended what remained of the Americans’ hope.
Belgium’s No. 1 has been here before
Courtois has been Belgium’s goalkeeper since debuting in 2011, when he kept a clean sheet in his first appearance. He also passed Enzo Scifo earlier in the tournament for the most World Cup appearances by a Belgian, underlining how long he has been at the center of the national team.
| Courtois at a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Belgium debut | 2011, with a clean sheet |
| World Cup 2018 | 27 saves, Golden Glove, third place |
| Notable moment | Stopped Neymar’s late shot in the 2018 quarterfinal |
His reputation at the World Cup was built in 2018, when he made 27 saves, won the Golden Glove and helped Belgium finish third. One of the most remembered moments from that run came against Brazil, when he got a hand to Neymar’s bending shot in the final minute of the quarterfinal.
A blunt assessment after the match
After the win, Courtois spoke to Belgian public broadcaster Sporza and said he felt more certain about beating the United States than he had been against Senegal in the round of 32. He also said he had read about FIFA overturning Balogun’s red card after a call from President Donald Trump and laughed.
“In recent days, we have been shown a lack of respect here in the U.S.,” Courtois told Sporza. “It was said they could beat us easily, but I think today we proved we are a good team.”
The comments matched the way Belgium played once it settled into control of the match. The United States created little danger for most of the night, and Courtois spent much of the game waiting for a moment that never really came.
Spain now waits
Belgium’s next opponent is Spain, which has not conceded in 609 minutes. Courtois has allowed five goals in five games, and he remains one of the last members of Belgium’s golden generation still standing with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.
At 34, Courtois is still defining Belgium’s biggest moments the way he did in 2014 and 2018. Against the United States in Seattle, he did it again by making the one save that mattered most.
