Lukaku's historic sub goal sends Belgium past USA into WC quarters

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku made history on July 7, 2026, scoring as a substitute in the 93rd minute to secure a 4-1 victory over the USA in the World Cup Round of 16. Coming on in the 67th minute, Lukaku became the first player ever to score as a substitute in four different FIFA World Cup matches, having previously found the net against Senegal in the Round of 16, and against New Zealand and Egypt during the group stage. The win sends Belgium into the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain in the coming days.

For Nigerian football fans, Lukaku's feat highlights the impact of super-subs in knockout football and underscores how depth can decide tight matches. It also signals Belgium's readiness to challenge European heavyweights Spain, a matchup that could shape the tournament's later stages.

What should you take from this? Consider how squad depth and tactical substitutions influence knockout outcomes, and whether Belgium's reliance on a veteran striker like Lukaku will be enough to overcome a tactically disciplined Spain side in the next round.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/07/world-cup-2026-lukaku-creates-history-after-belgium-thrash-usa/