World Cup 2026: USA bounced out by Belgium after Balogun furore; backlash against Fifa builds – live

World Cup 2026: Belgium Defeats USA; FIFA Reviews Balogun Red Card Decision

Key events

3h ago Fifa addresses Uefa statements on Balogun case

3h ago Egypt players reference Salah ahead of Argentina match

4h ago Colombia supporters noted for atmosphere at venues

5h ago Belgium issues statement on match outcome

Preamble

In non-World Cup news, the latest product of the Gray dynasty, 17-year-old Harry Gray, is going on loan to League One’s Sheffield Wednesday from Leeds United for the season. “There were quite a few clubs interested but it was an easy decision because this is such a big club. It’s crazy to think about 24,000 season tickets in League One and the timing is perfect, as I have a full pre-season to settle in,” he told the club’s website.

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguay senator made comments about Kylian Mbappé following Paraguay’s loss to France at the World Cup. The Paris prosecutor’s office told the Associated Press on Tuesday that it launched the probe after the national unit for combating online hate received a complaint from the French Football Federation. Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted comments on social media after Mbappé converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday. The Paris prosecutor’s office said the remarks were allegedly made because of the victim’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion. These offenses were punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and a 45,000 euros fine. The FFF described the comments as unacceptable. French president Emmanuel Macron and sports minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for Mbappé.

France's Kylian Mbappé with teammates during training in Massachusetts yesterday. Photograph: Winslow Townson/IMAGN IMAGES/Reuters

Fifa’s decision regarding Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the World Cup has drawn responses from several football officials. Javier Tebas Medrano, president of La Liga, posted on social media describing the matter as part of a broader credibility issue for Fifa. In a lengthy post he added: “When rules can be interpreted or modified as convenient; when the most consequential decisions are made without genuine dialogue and agreement with national/domestic leagues, which are the ones sustaining professional football 365 days a year (the vast majority of professional clubs and players do not participate in international competitions); when a unilateral agenda is imposed without listening to football’s main stakeholders, the problem stops being a specific resolution and becomes the system itself.”

Folarin Balogun received a red card for a challenge in which he stepped on an opponent’s ankle during the USA’s group-stage win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The automatic one-match suspension was reviewed under Fifa procedures. PA reported comments from the player after the match against Belgium. He told reporters: “Of course, it’s controversial when the decision is overturned. We accepted the decision when I saw the red card, and we accepted the decision when we were told I could play. I was not involved in the process. It had nothing to do with me personally.” He also said that he had spoken to Belgium’s coach Rudi Garcia after the match. Garcia had previously stated that Balogun “didn’t do anything wrong” during the incident. The 25-year-old, who plays for Monaco, featured in the match that ended in a Belgium victory.

Folarin Balogun walks off the pitch after losing to Belgium. Photograph: Ted S Warren/AP

Martin Belam

Hi everyone, good afternoon/morning/evening. The tournament schedule includes Argentina v Egypt and Switzerland v Colombia today. Lionel Messi laughs at escaping having to watch the other R16 match tonight as presumably he will be playing against Egypt. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

“Who wants to bet with me that Roberto Martínez will get the Spain job next?” emails Shaun Wilkinson. “Nobody outside of Boris Johnson has failed upwards so consistently and successfully. I feel very sorry for the Portuguese players who have missed probably their best chance to win a World Cup thanks to the spinelessness of their manager. Gonçalo Ramos must be especially devastated and angry.”

On this day in World Cup history, 1974: West Germany beat Johan Cruyff’s Dutch team in Munich. Here’s Der Kaiser soaking it all up. Franz Beckenbauer celebrates victory. Photograph: Colorsport/Shutterstock

Ed Aarons

We’re a little over five hours from Egypt’s match against the defending champions, Argentina, in Atlanta. Ed Aarons sets the scene. “As Mohamed Salah savoured the feeling of Egypt’s historic victory over Australia, the narrative had already moved on. The former Liverpool forward could not contain his delight after his scuffed penalty helped to seal a redemptive shootout triumph in Dallas for the Pharaohs on Friday. ‘I decided last minute. I am more experienced than others and I wanted to give them confidence,’ said Salah, who had missed in Egypt’s last two shootouts, including the World Cup qualifying playoff against Senegal four years ago. ‘I don’t know if it’s my last World Cup, but I had to do it. Today was one of the best days of my life.’”

It’s lively below the line today, unsurprisingly. Here’s some political bracketology from Rscully: “Can you picture Trump handing the trophy to the far right’s bete noire Kylian Mbappé, as the LA stadium resounds with the anti-Trump boos of 80,000 Californians? Cos I can’t. He’s going to skip out for sure.” While FullHD offers a take on another of this World Cup’s themes: “I wish this Messi v Salah v Mbappe v Haaland or whoever it is stuff would stop. It’s profoundly silly and disrespectful in a team sport.”

It’s always worth a check-in on the player interactive. Thanks Luke, greetings everyone. Donald Trump stated that he contacted Fifa regarding the review of Balogun’s red card. Marina Hyde wrote a column on the matter. “A lot of people rightly feel sorry for Balogun, who never asked to find the president’s form supposedly in his corner. In fact, presumably the London-raised Balogun particularly didn’t, given he’s precisely the sort of chap whose birthright citizenship Trump would have done anything to limit until the supreme court finally struck down his attempts to do so last week. But, to quote a phrase, it is what it is. No one, however, feels remotely sorry for Fifa president Infantino, to whom the focus must now decisively shift. Infantino produced some explanation for why Fifa’s supposedly independent judicial bodies triggered the opaque Article 27 and overturned the ban, which I saw ran in one US publication under a headline including the words ‘Infantino defends Fifa’s integrity.’ Sorry, Fifa’s what? I can’t believe it’s come to this, but we’re now officially in the nihilistic ‘Bring back Blatter’ era. Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter – last seen looking like he was sleeping in his car yet somehow finally contriving to be cleared of corruption charges on appeal last year – yesterday launched a two-footed attack on his successor over the whole business. ‘Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls,’ he stated. By what then? Sacks of cash and luxury watches? Apparently not. ‘They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,’ Blatter thundered.”

That’s all from me, for now, Tom Davies is stepping into the breach. A David Squires cartoon on – you guessed it – Mexico 2-3 England! Louise Taylor

Newcastle are close to completing the signing of Sean Steur from Ajax for around £23m. The two-footed central midfielder is only 18 but has been widely hyped as the Amsterdam club’s brightest emerging midfield talent since Frenkie de Jong. While De Jong has graduated to Barcelona, Steur, who can operate as a No 6 or a No 8, seems almost certainly Tyneside bound. At St James’ Park he is likely to start next season competing with Lewis Miley to fill Sandro Tonali’s old central midfield role and will be given time to adjust to the Premier League’s physicality. Sean Steur of Ajax. Photograph: ANP/Shutterstock

Next: How about some away-from-the-World-Cup transfer news? OK. The Folarin Balogun red-card controversy followed reports of Donald Trump’s statement on the matter. Here’s how the story developed over the past couple of days: ‘I’m the one who got them to do it’: Donald Trump says he was behind Fifa red card U-turn – video. Trump says he asked Fifa to review Balogun red card – video. Nick Ames had a chat with Max Rushden about Mexico v England on the latest instalment of World Cup Daily: “You still feel a little bit drained … it was just a game of football, but it was edge-of-the-seat, tense stuff for 101 minutes … the atmosphere was everything people say about the Azteca – it was intense, it was thrilling. The Mexicans, they were so passionate and into their team … but they were mingling with England fans afterwards and I only saw really lovely things, in terms of the hospitality and the way people got on … and obviously it was an all-time classic of a football match. Being able to cover these two games at the Azteca, [Mexico] against Ecuador and England, I think they’ve been the best things I’ve done in my career. It’s been absolutely magical.” Mexico v England. A memorable occasion for all concerned. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

A spot of non-World Cup news from the managerial merry-go-round: Paris FC have appointed the former Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior as manager on a contract until June 2028, the Ligue 1 club said on Tuesday. The 41-year-old Englishman succeeds Antoine Kombouaré, who guided them to an 11th-placed finish last season. “Liam Rosenior brings together all the qualities we were looking for,” the sporting director Marco Neppe said in a statement. “He is a modern, demanding coach and recognised for his ability to help both the players and the team progress. Beyond his tactical skills, we were particularly attracted by his management qualities and his ability to unite a group around a clear vision. Rosenior returns to French football after leaving RC Strasbourg, whom he managed from 2024 to 2026, before taking charge of Chelsea in January after Enzo Maresca’s departure. His spell at Stamford Bridge was short-lived, with the club ending his contract less than four months after handing him a deal until 2032. Paris FC said Rosenior will begin work on Thursday.” Liam Rosenior. Photograph: Matteo Ciambelli/Reuters

I just spotted this photo of Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi celebrating with the World Cup in Rome, in 2006. Well, why not post it here? Fabio Cannavaro (right) and teammate Marco Materazzi celebrate winning the 2006 World Cup. Photograph: M

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