The Belgian football federation has vowed “to challenge” FIFA’s controversial reversal of a red card game suspension against Folarin Balogun, which allows the star USA player to take the field in the round of 16 World Cup match against Belgium.
The statement on Monday from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) came hours before the match was set to begin, and as US President Donald Trump defended directly reaching out to FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino ahead of the controversial decision.
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The federation charged that FIFA did not follow the proper protocol in allowing an appeal of its lifting of Balogun’s game suspension, the result of a red card shown during the round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The RBFA said, given FIFA’s conduct, the federation “has no alternative but to challenge [Balogun’s] eligibility for the upcoming match”. It was not immediately clear how such a challenge would proceed.
“Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply concerned by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole,” the federation said.
Trump says he asked Infantino to ‘review’ the decision
The decision to lift Balogun’s one-game suspension came shortly after Trump spoke directly to Infantino.
That has raised eyebrows and accusations of political meddling in the tournament, with critics noting it is exceedingly rare for FIFA to lift a game suspension during the World Cup, even when a referee makes a questionable call.
If Balogun is allowed to play, it would be the first time since 1962 that a red card issued at the World Cup did not result in a suspension.
FIFA has said it relied on Article 27 of its disciplinary committee rules to reverse the game ban. The provision states “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure”.
FIFA had earlier said the game ban could not be appealed by Team USA.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump denied that he directly influenced FIFA’s decision.
“All I did, I asked for a review, because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters.
“I thought it was two great athletes that crashed [into] each other and got entangled.”
He further called football referee Raphael Claus “very suspect”. He added, “If you want, I’ll provide you with the past”, without providing further details.
Later on Monday, Infantino also released his version of the call, which he said was among many he regularly receives from “heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues”.
Infantino maintained he was not involved in the decision on Balogun’s suspension and was only made aware after it was released.
“During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies,” he said.
‘Keep politics out’
To be sure, several leading football pundits have questioned the decision by Claus to show Balogun the red card.
Many have argued that Balogun incidentally stepped on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during an otherwise legitimate challenge, and the contact did not warrant the potentially tournament-transforming penalty.
Nevertheless, the unusual series of events is likely to cast a further pall of politics over the games ahead, adding to criticism of the Trump administration’s treatment of Iran’s national team.
Observers have said the optics of Trump’s intervention could taint any future success of the USA team, which has far exceeded expectations under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“This is embarrassing to a wonderful US team and a wonderful player,” Shibley Telhami, a professor of peace and development at the University of Maryland, wrote on X following FIFA’s decision.
“Keep politics out. This US team is good enough to win honourably. Now, a win will be diminished.”
Four wins to go. How can your team reach the final and win the World Cup 2026? Click here to find out.
Who: Argentina vs Egypt What: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Where: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, the United States When: Tuesday, July 7, at 12pm (16:00 GMT) How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 12:30 GMT before our live text commentary stream.
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Get ready for a spicy battle of the number 10s – a dazzling duel between Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah, two of the greatest forwards in world football, as Argentina face Egypt in the World Cup round of 16.
Argentina have been the clear favourites in every game they’ve played at the tournament, but after being made to work for victory in the last tie, the presumption that the reigning champions are unbeatable has been broken.
Egypt, on the other hand, are on a historic run of their own, gearing up to chase a first-ever quarterfinal berth. One of only two African sides remaining at the tournament, they carry the hopes of the continent and have gone toe-to-toe with the world’s best.
Al Jazeera tells you everything about Argentina vs Egypt:
How did Argentina and Egypt reach the round of 16?
Argentina topped Group J with a perfect record of nine points, winning against Austria, Algeria and Jordan. In the round of 32, they were pushed to extra time by a resilient Cape Verde team before edging past the tournament debutants 3-2 in a thrilling contest.
Egypt came second in Group G with five points, drawing with Belgium and Iran and winning against New Zealand. They defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties in the round of 32 after the game was tied 1-1 following extra time. It marked the first-ever World Cup knockout for Egypt, who made their tournament debut in 1934.
Argentina legend Messi, France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland are all tied at seven goals, with Mbappe leading the list, his two assists breaking the tie.
If Messi – who has scored in each of Argentina’s four games so far – finds the net against Egypt, not only will he become the Golden Boot leader, but he will also join Guillermo Stabile (1930) as the only Argentina player to score eight goals in a single World Cup.
But ahead of Tuesday’s last-16 tie, there have been concerns about fatigue, and it’s not just limited to Messi.
Argentina were forced to play extra time by Cape Verde in the heat in Miami in the US on Friday, while Egypt-Australia went all the way to penalties on the same day. Those gruelling knockout games left both teams with little time for rest and recovery.
Argentina’s 39-year-old forward Lionel Messi played the full 120 minutes against Cape Verde [AFP]
Messi admitted after the last match that he was tired, and he lamented Argentina’s inability to press their opponents high up the pitch.
Meanwhile, Egypt relied heavily on their defensive organisation and looked to Salah and Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush to launch counterattacks against Australia, an approach they could employ again against Argentina.
For Egypt, a fully fit Salah could be crucial after the attacking winger entered the Australia match with a hamstring concern and at times appeared reluctant to sprint at full speed during a draining 120-minute contest.
If Egypt stun Argentina, they will become the fifth African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals after Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), Ghana (2010) and Morocco (2022 and 2026).
Argentina vs Egypt prediction
The Opta supercomputer gives Argentina a 69.1 percent likelihood of winning in regulation time, while Egypt’s chances of winning are 12.3 percent.
The model estimates a 18.5 percent probability of the game going to extra time.
Argentina vs Egypt: Kickoff, TV schedule
Argentina: TyC Sports, TyC Sports Play (1pm, Argentina Standard Time)
United Kingdom: BBC One, BBC iPlayer (5pm, British Summer Time)
To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.
Argentina supporters are hoping for a back-to-back World Cup triumph [Roberto Schmidt/AFP]
Who will the winner face in the quarterfinals?
The winner of the Argentina vs Egypt match will play either Switzerland or Colombia in the quarterfinals in Kansas City in the US on Saturday, July 11.
Argentina vs Egypt: Head-to-head
This will be the first World Cup match between Argentina and Egypt.
Their last meeting was a friendly in Cairo in 2008, which Argentina won 2-0.
Argentina are on an eight-game winning run against African nations at the World Cup, with two of those coming in this edition (3-0 vs Algeria, 3-2 vs Cape Verde). No side in the competition’s history has won three games against African opponents in a single edition before.
Argentina vs Egypt: Team news
Argentina’s Gonzalez (ankle injury) and Medina (physical discomfort) are doubtful, while Egypt’s Fatouh (muscle) and El Fotouh (hamstring) are out injured.
Argentina’s predicted lineup
(4-4-2): E Martinez (goalkeeper); Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Lautaro
1 of 3 | Philippine Congresswoman Gerville Luistro (L), a member of the prosecution panel, delivers an opening statement during proceedings for the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City, Metro Manila on Monday. Photo by Rolex Dela Pena/EPA
July 6 (UPI) — Prosecutors in the Philippines called for accountability Monday on the first day of an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte, whose lawyers said the case was politically motivated.
Sara Duterte, who is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, faces allegations of misusing public funds. The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach her in May, with 257 of 290 lawmakers voting in favor.
The allegations center on the wealth she gained after becoming mayor of Davao in 2019 along with her use of funds as vice president.
In opening arguments, Gerville Luistro, a House representative from Batangas, questioned, “does accountability still matter in our country?”
“If a small village treasurer can’t explain missing funds, he is investigated. If a school principal squanders public funds, even just 5,000 pesos, she is punished. If ordinary people are held to account, why not the most powerful government official,” Luistro questioned, as reported by the BBC.
Sara Duterte’s lawyer, meanwhile, said lawmakers are targeting her politically because she received more votes in the 2022 presidential election — 32.2 million — than President Bongbong Marcos did in his race — 31.6 million.
“It is clear that the objective is to oust her,” lawyer Sheila Sison said.
“Whatever one’s political persuasion is, the reality is that the prosecution now comes for this court to remove a vice president chosen by an overwhelming number of the electorate,” she added, as reported by the Philippine Star reported.
After opening statements, Sen. Chiz Escudero, the presiding officer in the trial, ordered the return of Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Sara Duterte was not present in the courtroom as the trial got underway.
She issued a statement saying her decision not to attend the proceedings and not to testify are a “legal strategy.” She also criticized Marcos for speaking against that decision.
“The burden remains on the prosecution to prove its case,” Sara Duterte wrote in her statement on Facebook. “Choosing to appear through counsel rather than testify personally does not diminish accountability or imply a lack of transparency. The integrity of an impeachment trial depends on adherence to the rule of law — not on whether the respondent personally takes the stand.”
Marcos, who was on a trip to Canada, told reporters in Vancouver that he would appear in person in court if he were facing an impeachment trial.
While this is Sara Duterte’s first impeachment trial, it’s her second impeachment as vice president. In 2024, she claimed to have arranged for Marcus to be killed if she were killed. The House of Representatives voted to impeach her for the comments, but the country’s Supreme Courtblocked the effort.
Troops in landing craft approach Omaha Beach on D-Day in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. D-Day was the largest seaborne invasion in history and turned the tide of World War II. Photo by UPI | License Photo
For some Egyptian football fans, watching Mohamed Salah qualify with Egypt for two World Cups in 2018 and 2026 will never make up for the fact that the “golden generation” did not get their shot in 2006, 2010 or 2014.
“It is unfair to compare the two generations,” Ahmed Elshiekh, a former national team player who now covers the World Cup for Modern MTI TV, told Al Jazeera.
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“The golden generation did everything but get to the World Cup. They beat Italy [when they were World Cup champions]. The draw in qualification was just unkind to them.”
Salah is the captain and leader of the current generation. He won every trophy on offer while playing for Liverpool in a glittering nine-year career that saw him become the highest scoring foreigner in the history of the English Premier League.
Given his status, it is perhaps no surprise that Salah shouldered the blame for an AFCON drought that stretches back to 2010. His achievement in dragging Egypt to the 2018 World Cup in Russia is brushed aside due to the fact that Egypt was the first team to be eliminated. A half-fit Salah, who had dislocated his shoulder in the UEFA Champions League final, scored twice, but Egypt lost all three matches, including to Saudi Arabia.
The failures were compounded when Egypt lost the 2021 AFCON final to Senegal on penalty kicks. Thirteen months later, Egypt met Senegal in a World Cup playoff and once again lost on penalty kicks. In the first shootout, Salah was designated as the fifth taker but never got a chance to take his penalty. For the second shootout, perhaps realising his mistake, he went first and missed.
Salah might have been one of the best players in the Premier League, but Egypt fans were frustrated. To soothe their pain, they hung on to the memories of a team that was crowned African champions in 2006, 2008 and 2010 – successes that were spearheaded by the legendary midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika, who is equally famous for his “Sympathise with Gaza” T-shirt as he is for his immaculate first touch.
The despondence was so deep that fans had lost hope for their national team. AFCON 2023 was blighted by an injury to Salah, who elected to return to Liverpool for rehabilitation but promised to return should the team advance to the final. Egypt’s tournament ended shortly after that statement, courtesy of a penalty shootout defeat in the round of 16.
Working at that time as an analyst for Egyptian TV, now-Egypt manager Hossam Hassan said that if Salah had done that on his watch, he would “never pick him for the national team again”.
A couple of weeks later, Hassan was appointed to lead the national team after Rui Vitoria’s dismissal.
It was widely speculated that the only reason the Egyptian Football Association hired Hassan was because the currency crisis had prevented them from attracting a foreign manager.
“Hossam Hassan as a player has achieved everything you can imagine,” Elsheikh said, referencing the former striker’s record 69 goals for Egypt and three AFCON titles.
“But as a manager, we saw what he can produce, and the results were not great. … Also he brought problems and created crises.”
The crises Elsheikh referred to have been a hallmark of Hassan’s journeyman coaching career marked by brawls and altercations with fans.
But the appointment proved to be a stroke of unintended genius.
Salah shoots and scores in a penalty shoot-out during the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Australia and Egypt at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on July 3, 2026 [Paul Ellis/AFP]
Salah finds form under Hassan
Instead of falling out with Salah, he and Hassan became joined at the hip. If there was anyone who could understand the pressure of Salah’s position, it was Hassan, who had lived it all before but with the added pressure of having played mostly in Egypt and having crossed the Cairo divide when he left Al Ahly to sign with bitter rivals Zamalek.
“Hassan does have a captain’s personality and is very energetic. He might not be the strongest tactically, but he does provide a solid defensive base” Elsheikh said.
Salah has enjoyed a rich vein of form under Hassan’s tutelage. Egypt qualified for the 2026 World Cup undefeated, winning eight out of their 10 matches. The team also reached the semifinals of the 2025 AFCON tournament – not that the achievement silenced any of the doubters.
Of course, it’s not all about Salah. Egypt have a raft of talented players, including Man City’s Omar Marmoush and Al Ahly’s Emam Ashour.
Their undefeated team is going into the round of 16 to face defending champions Argentina on Tuesday. Egypt have overcome a great deal of adversity to reach this stage of the tournament as well.
A second-half comeback against New Zealand in the group stage was needed to secure the nation’s first win at a World Cup. Salah exited the final group game against Iran with a hamstring injury but played all 120 minutes of the penalty shootout win over Australia in the last 32. The 34-year-old converted his kick with a Panenka against Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
In the aftermath of that victory, Aboutrika, now an analyst for beIN Sports, did his best to pass the baton to the new generation.
Goalscorer Ashour had expressed his joy at being compared to Aboutrika, saying his ambition was to be “as half as good or even a quarter as good as him”.
Later on in the studio, Aboutrika responded by saying: “You are better than [me]. You’ve scored two goals in a World Cup,” and insisting that this was the biggest night in the history of Egyptian football.
Not everyone is so convinced.
“This Egypt team is better than any we have seen in years yet is still remarkably fragile,” opined Karim Zidan, a writer focused on the intersection of sports, power and politics.
Salah, meanwhile, was once again asked who was the greatest Egyptian player of all time and again deferred to Aboutrika, saying “there is absolutely no discussion.”
This photo, taken Monday, shows a training aircraft flying near a military airport in Gwangju. The South Korean government announced the airport as the future site for a semiconductor production cluster. Photo by Yonhap
A military airport in the southwestern city of Gwangju was selected Monday as the site for a government-led project to create a semiconductor production cluster, a presidential official said.
The selection was made in a meeting earlier in the day between government officials and top executives of leading chipmakers — Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. — to discuss follow-up measures for the investment project, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said at a press briefing.
The president will hold monthly meetings to personally check the progress in the massive investment project, he added.
The envisioned chip production cluster is part of the government’s “three megaprojects” initiative, centered on large-scale investments in semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence (AI) and AI data centers in regional areas.
Under the chip cluster project, the two leading chipmakers have pledged to invest a combined 800 trillion won (US$522 billion), marking the single-largest investment plan to date in the southwestern Gwangju and Honam area.
“Through consultations with related ministries, the government will promptly finalize the (administrative) process of designating the candidate site,” Kang said.
The presidential official noted that companies proposed the military site for the production complex, describing it as an 8.3 million-square-meter track of already leveled land that would save time for preparation.
Its proximity to the city’s downtown and railway station would also facilitate easy access for workers and the transportation of goods, the official said.
Kang noted that the president has decided to hold monthly meetings to review the progress of the projects and establish a dedicated body within Cheong Wa Dae to oversee them.
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
Fifty years ago, in 1976, the median age of the global population was just under 21 years. That means of the 4.1 billion people on Earth at the time, about half were younger than 21 and half were older. Today the median age is 31, and by 2050 the United Nations projects it will reach 36. The typical human being is steadily getting older.
What is the replacement rate?
The engine of that change is fertility. Demographers measure it using the total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates. The figure that matters most is the replacement rate, generally put at about 2.1 births per woman. That is the level at which a generation exactly replaces itself, keeping the population stable over the long run without immigration. The slight margin above two accounts for children who do not survive to adulthood.
[Al Jazeera]
The global fertility rate today is about 2.2, barely above replacement and down from approximately five in the 1960s. The United Nations expects it to reach the replacement level around the middle of this century and to keep falling after that. More than half of all countries are already below replacement, including China, the United States, India, Japan and most of Europe.
In practical terms, a fertility rate below replacement means that, over time, each generation is smaller than the one before it. Fewer babies today means fewer working-age adults tomorrow, and a growing share of retirees supported by a shrinking workforce. That is the pressure now facing pension systems, health services and labour markets from Italy to South Korea. It is why population ageing, more than raw numbers, is becoming the defining demographic story of the century.
Gardeners’ World star Adam Frost has been a familiar face on the BBC show for years, but there is one garden design request he simply can’t bring himself to carry out.
09:23, 06 Jul 2026Updated 09:24, 06 Jul 2026
He made his feeling towards giant outdoor chess pieces known(Image: BBC)
Adam Frost has disclosed he knocked back one individual’s gardening request.
Making an appearance on the most recent instalment of Sunday Brunch (July 5), he chatted with Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer regarding his new podcast alongside Caitlin Moran.
Yet during their chat, Tim pointed out that Adam harbours a loathing for outdoor chess boards, with the BBC presenter confirming this.
He responded: “The massive, plastic chess sets. You go to a hotel, or even people put them in their garden!”
“They pave a huge area, and they have these plastic chess pieces that slowly change colour. Really, kids just use them to attack each other.
“If you want to play chess in your garden, buy a board, a set, take it out into the garden around a table with a nice drink. Civilised. Don’t do that plastic, no.”
While Tim suggested it’s an ‘immersive experience’ having the pieces exceptionally oversized, Adam was swift to dismiss this, reports the Express.
He continued: “That’s not immersive! How is that immersive? No. It’s a complete and utter waste of space.”
When swimmer Mark Foster queried whether it might resemble a form of artwork in a garden, Adam appeared utterly bewildered by the notion.
The Gardeners’ World presenter went on: “I can remember, first doing a landscape job very early on when I had a small landscape company and someone wanted me to lay a checkerboard paving pattern in their back garden.
“I refused, very politely. I just couldn’t do it. It’s just a no.”
This follows Adam’s candid reflections on the bittersweet nature of relocating, which took place towards the end of last year.
The BBC presenter recently returned to his previous home, which has since been taken over by a new couple.
Adam described the conflicting feelings that come with leaving behind a cherished garden as he said: ” I walked around with them [the new couple] and they are absolutely loving it.
“And I think that’s a great thing to hold on to, is the fact that maybe you’ve just left somebody else a whole load of joy.”
Sunday Brunch airs on Sundays on Channel 4 from 10am.
Under Fifa’s disciplinary code, Ronaldo should have received a three-match ban for elbowing Dara O’Shea during Portugal’s 2-0 qualifying defeat by the Republic of Ireland in November.
He served one match in the final qualifier against Armenia – but the remaining two games of the ban were suspended.
Ronaldo’s red card, though, was received in qualifying. It was not a red card at a World Cup.
There have been many cases of players being shown some leniency before a tournament, not just Ronaldo.
See France’s Laurent Koscielny in 2014, or Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo and Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi before this World Cup.
At least with Ronaldo, we were given some justification, with Fifa saying it had taking into account that “he had no red cards in his other 225 international appearances”.
With Balogun, we did not even get that.
It has left a vacuum of information which can only lead to speculation.
Why was this a special case? What factors were taken into account? Who made the decision?
BBC Sport has been told there are no suggestions that the referee asked for the suspension to be removed, or that video assistant referee protocol was not respected.
In England, the Football Association would publish the full written reasons.
The United States have the right to ask Fifa to publish them, Belgium do not.
BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards, a former England defender, said it was a farce.
“To have it suspended for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament,” he said.
“It is to keep the big stars in the competition. How can that happen? Fifa needs to do better.
“It has left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.”
Belgium are, of course, furious. They issued a statement on Sunday saying they were “astonished” that Balogun had been cleared to play.
The Belgian FA referenced several regulations, workshop presentations and pre-tournament co-ordination meetings.
They are adamant that the decision contradicts the tournament regulations which state that a player “will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match”.
In effect, they say Fifa used its disciplinary code to override the competition regulations.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia, speaking at a news conference, went further. He said: “I didn’t know that [at] the Fifa World Cup 5 July is now 1 April, and that is April Fool’s.
“We are not defending the national team or the federation, we’re defending football.”
What must the other players sent off at this tournament be thinking?
Take Qatar’s Assim Madibo, involved in an unfortunate incident which led to a broken leg for Canada’s midfielder Ismael Kone.
There is a clear case here that Madibo did not even make a challenge, that the injury happened by chance and not because of the nature of the tackle.
Yet Fifa handed Madibo a five-game ban – an extra three on top of the standard punishment for serious foul play.
Mexico’s World Cup dream ended with a thrilling 3-2 loss to England in the Round of 16, but many of the host nation’s fans celebrated their team despite the loss.
Four wins to go. How can your team reach the final and win the World Cup 2026? Click here to find out.
Who: Portugal vs Spain What: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 Where: Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, the United States When: Monday, July 6, at 2pm (19:00 GMT) How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 16:00 GMT before our live text commentary stream.
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A clash of generations awaits on Monday as ageing football star Cristiano Ronaldo goes up against teen prodigy Lamine Yamal in the World Cup round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain.
The “Iberian derby” marks a rematch of last year’s UEFA Nations League final, which Portugal won by beating European champions Spain on penalties.
Yet, it is not Portugal who are the favourites for this meeting in Dallas. After squeezing their way into the last-16 and a tumultuous run in the group stage, Ronaldo and his side face an uphill task to outshine Spain’s new golden generation.
Since a shock goalless draw in the opening game, Spain have grown into the tournament, and their slick playmaking coupled with solid defence makes them frontrunners to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 16 years.
Al Jazeera tells you everything about Portugal vs Spain, a battle of the two pre-tournament favourites:
How did Portugal and Spain reach the round of 16?
Portugal came second in Group J with five points, thrashing Uzbekistan and being held to draws by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Colombia. In the round of 32, they controversially scraped past Croatia, bouncing back from a goal down to win 2-1.
Spain topped Group H with seven points, beating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, and being held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde. In the round of 32, they stormed past Austria 3-0. La Roja are unbeaten in their last 34 matches (W25 D9), one shy of equalling their longest-ever unbeaten run of 35 set between February 2007 and June 2009.
Ronaldo’s last dance?
At age 41, fading forward Ronaldo is still Portugal’s most influential player, not because of his prowess on the pitch but his larger-than-life status off of it. Though he still demands attention in a supremely talented team while contributing less on the pitch, it is safe to say Ronaldo’s once explosive powers are in decline.
Heading into the tournament, there was always speculation about his future, with the 2026 World Cup possibly his last. While Ronaldo – the second-oldest player at the tournament – has fended off questions about what’s next, his sister said he would retire from national duty at the end of the World Cup.
That makes each one of Portugal’s knockout games more intense – if they lose, it could bring down the curtain on Ronaldo’s international career.
From club to country, Ronaldo has won several trophies in a decorated career over the years, but if Portugal fall to Spain, his glittering collection will remain incomplete without the shiny, golden World Cup trophy.
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo has scored three goals at the 2026 World Cup, and in comparison, his longtime rival and current tournament leader Lionel Messi has seven goals [Cole Burston/AFP]
‘World Cup starts now’: Yamal
After a hamstring injury threatened to derail Yamal’s debut World Cup campaign, the 18-year-old winger has stepped up and is slowly stealing the spotlight in North America.
A man-of-the-match performance in Spain’s first tournament knockout win over Austria highlighted the talented youngster’s impact, two years on from his dazzling display that helped Spain win Euro 2024.
“I want to advance through the rounds and win with Spain,” said Yamal. “We aren’t afraid of any team. We are Spain.”
“The World Cup starts now.”
Yamal has bagged one goal so far, while Mikel Oyarzabal leads the team’s scoring chart with four. Spain are unbeaten in 34 matches and chasing their second World Cup title, 16 years after their first in South Africa in 2010.
Portugal vs Spain prediction
The Opta supercomputer gives Spain a 49.2 percent likelihood of winning in regulation time, while Portugal’s chances of winning are 25.6 percent.
The model estimates a 25.2 percent probability of the game going to extra time.
Portugal vs Spain: Kickoff time, TV channels
Portugal: RTP1, SPORT.TV5, LiveModeTV, RTP Play (8pm, Western European Summer Time)
Spain: (9pm, Central European Summer Time)
United Kingdom: BBC One, BBC iPlayer (8pm, British Summer Time)
United States: FOX, FOX One, Telemundo App, Telemundo Network, Peacock (3pm, Eastern Daylight Time)
To check the TV listings for your country, head to FIFA’s TV listing schedule here.
A Portugal supporter cheers before the 2026 World Cup group match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at the Houston Stadium in Texas in the US [Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP]
Who will the winner face in the quarterfinals?
The winner of the Portugal vs Spain match will face either the USA or Belgium in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles in the US on Friday, July 10.
Portugal vs Spain: Head-to-head
There has been little to separate Portugal and Spain across their five previous meetings at major tournaments, with each side winning once and the remaining three matches ending in draws.
That includes their most recent World Cup meeting, a 3-3 draw in 2018, in which Ronaldo scored a hat-trick.
In the all-time head-to-head, the teams have played 41 times, with Spain winning 18 times, Portugal seven times, and the sides playing out 16 draws.
Portugal will take confidence from having defeated Spain, albeit in a shootout, in their most recent meeting in the UEFA Nations League final in June 2025.
Portugal vs Spain: Team news
Spain’s Nico Williams is out with a hamstring injury. No issues are reported in the Portugal camp.
Portugal’s predicted lineup
(4-2-3-1): Costa (goalkeeper); Cancelo, Dias, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha; Neto, Fernandes, Leao; Ronaldo
Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Jae-yong announces an investment plan during a meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, 29 June 2026, to unveil the government’s three mega projects aimed at attracting large-scale investment in semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers. South Korea plans to develop a new semiconductor production base in the country’s southwestern region through 800 trillion won (517.9 billion US dollar) in corporate investments that will create four memory chip fabrication plants. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
July 5 (Asia Today) — Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are facing a strategic balancing act as they move ahead with major U.S. semiconductor projects while preparing to invest about 800 trillion won, or $523.7 billion, in a new chip cluster in South Korea.
The two companies announced plans last week to build a semiconductor cluster in South Korea’s southwest, part of a broader government-backed effort to strengthen the country’s position in artificial intelligence chips and advanced memory.
The project is expected to include four new fabrication plants, two each from Samsung and SK hynix. But the plan comes as the companies are also watching possible pressure from the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly used tariffs and investment demands as tools of industrial policy.
In a recent securities filing, SK hynix listed U.S. tariffs and trade restrictions as a business risk.
“If major countries, including the United States, impose or strengthen trade restrictions such as tariffs on imports, including semiconductors, our business performance could deteriorate,” the company said.
The United States has imposed reciprocal tariffs and other import-related charges since 2025. Semiconductors have not been included in some measures, but Trump has previously threatened tariffs of up to 100% on memory chipmakers that do not build factories in the United States.
Samsung and SK hynix already have major U.S. investment plans.
Samsung is building semiconductor facilities in Taylor, Texas. Its U.S. investment plans have been reported at more than $37 billion through 2030, with the Taylor site expected to include advanced foundry production.
SK hynix is investing $3.87 billion in West Lafayette, Ind., to build an advanced packaging and research facility for AI memory. The Indiana plant is expected to support high-bandwidth memory products used in AI accelerators.
The U.S. projects are already large, but they are smaller than the companies’ planned domestic investment. That could draw attention from Washington as the Trump administration seeks more manufacturing commitments from global companies ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Industry officials say the more realistic option for Samsung and SK hynix may be to accelerate existing U.S. projects rather than announce entirely new plans, given the size of their commitments in South Korea.
Samsung could further clarify plans for a second Taylor fabrication plant. The company said in April that it was conducting an initial review of the second Taylor fab while holding discussions with global customers.
SK hynix may face closer scrutiny because its U.S. investment is smaller than Samsung’s and because it is preparing to list American depositary receipts on Nasdaq on July 10.
Both companies are highly exposed to the U.S. market. Samsung’s Americas sales accounted for 32.5% of first-quarter revenue, while SK hynix’s Americas sales accounted for 68.8%, according to their quarterly reports.
Funding will be the key question if Washington presses for faster or larger U.S. investment. Both companies have already outlined enormous capital spending plans at home and abroad.
For now, their cash generation remains strong. Brokerage estimates cited by local media project Samsung’s second-quarter operating profit at about 85 trillion won, or $55.6 billion. SK hynix’s second-quarter operating profit is projected at about 65 trillion won, or $42.6 billion.
Analysts say AI-related semiconductor demand remains in an early phase. Kevin Warsh, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, recently compared the AI boom to the first or second inning of a baseball game, saying the technology shift represents a major paradigm change for economic policy and the wider economy.
Industry officials say the semiconductor cycle could last longer than the traditional three to four years because demand for AI data centers, advanced memory and high-performance computing continues to expand.
For Samsung and SK hynix, the challenge is how to satisfy U.S. expectations for local production while also carrying out South Korea’s largest semiconductor investment push.
With his quiet brilliance, incredible goal-scoring ability and sly smile, Norway’s Erling Haaland has etched his name in history yet again.
“It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history,” Haaland, arguably the country’s greatest footballer, said moments after leading Norway into the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup.
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The 25-year-old’s late brace dumped record five-time champions Brazil out of the tournament and sent his team into the last eight for the first time in history.
It is widely believed that on his towering frame, broad shoulders and inherent knack for scoring goals, Haaland knows how to carry Norway when it matters most.
After being a non-factor for much of the afternoon and having limited touches on the ball, Haaland spoke at the second-half hydration break with coach Stale Solbakken, who told him to drain his energy and go for it.
Solbakken’s wish was Haaland’s command as he headed in the first goal of the match in the 79th minute and scored again before the end of regulation time.
He sits comfortably at the top of the goal-scorers’ list for his country with 62 to his name in 54 appearances, at an impressive rate of 1.15 goals per game. The long-haired forward is often called “the smiling assassin” in a nod to the pairing of his skilful finishing and cool demeanour.
Haaland’s scoring streak for Norway has now reached 27 goals in 14 games, and despite being crowned man of the match, a humble Haaland relegated the team’s heroics to goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
“For me, he’s my man of the match, even though I scored the goals. He prevented so many goals that would have probably sent us back home,” Haaland told reporters after the win.
“He’s the reason why we’re going to be playing the quarterfinal for the first time in our history – much respect to him.”
Haaland has led Norway’s charge in the World Cup [Al Bello/Getty Images via AFP]
In the shadows of Messi, Mbappe and Ronaldo
The Manchester City striker has gone level with Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot with seven goals apiece so far, but came from behind to join the footballing giants in lifting his country at the biggest stage.
Pre-tournament headlines were dominated by what Messi could do, what Cristiano Ronaldo might do, and what Mbappe was expected to do.
Haaland’s biggest triumph was leading Norway back to the World Cup after nearly three decades, and the Viking hero has stormed through the tournament with sheer force and masterful skill to write his own storyline.
The 195cm (6ft 5-inch) tall striker’s rise to the upper echelons of the sport has been marked by humility, self-belief and single-mindedness.
“I have peaked a few times during this tournament, but every time, there is a new peak,” Haaland said after the victory against Brazil.
“If I receive one or two chances, they usually end up in a goal. I don’t really know what I do; this is just the way I am. It’s all about staying focused, and when the chance comes, I know exactly what to do.”
‘This night will be remembered forever’
The gravity of the moment was not lost on Haaland after his side shocked Brazil and sent Neymar into international retirement.
“Scoring twice against Brazil is something I will treasure forever, but those goals don’t belong to me alone,” Haaland said in a post-match interview.
“They belong to every teammate who sacrificed everything, every coach who believed in us, every supporter who stood by us through the difficult years, and every child in Norway who now believes that anything is possible.
“This is a night that will be remembered forever in every Norwegian home. We didn’t just beat Brazil, we gave our nation a memory that will live on for generations,” Haaland said after admitting that the win brought tears to his eyes.
“No matter what happens next, nobody can ever take this feeling, these tears, or this piece of history away from us.”
While his counterparts entered the World Cup as global household names, Haaland was a social media sensation, known for his witty Snapchat stories and Instagram content, which made him a more relatable, playful, almost goofy icon that broke away from the traditional path to stardom.
In true Haaland fashion – and, as the memes rightfully predicted – the Norwegian star posted a cheeky photo straight from the locker room with his jersey scrunched around his neck that racked up millions of likes within hours.
‘Defenders hate playing against him’
When asked if Haaland’s strength and speed make him a dangerous player, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti argued that it is actually his timing.
“He doesn’t waste energy chasing every ball or wrestling defenders for 90 minutes. He studies them, he waits, he understands exactly when a defender loses concentration.
“Then, in one second, he’s gone,” Ancelotti said in a post-match interview. “You can defend perfectly against him for 89 minutes, but football is decided by moments, and [Haaland] is probably the best in the world at recognising those moments.
“That’s why defenders hate playing against him. You think you’ve controlled him all game, and suddenly, he’s celebrating another goal.”
What’s next for the Vikings?
Haaland and co are up against Harry Kane’s side after England snuck past cohosts Mexico into the quarterfinals with a 3-2 win at Estadio Azteca.
As Norway take on England on Saturday, Haaland will have yet another chance to shine for his country and rewrite history.
But for now, the moment is his.
“Everyone just needs to enjoy themselves,” he told his countrymen across the Atlantic as he literally helmed the now-famous Viking row boat on the pitch in celebration.
“This is just an insane day. Like I said, it’s one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it. Embrace it and enjoy the moment.”
The FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals lineup as it builds, with match kickoff times and locations.
Published On 6 Jul 20266 Jul 2026
As the biggest FIFA World Cup in history enters its fourth week, fewer than half of the 48 teams that kicked off the tournament remain in contention to win the title in North America.
The quarterfinals are now under way, with four of the last eight teams confirmed on the second day of action in the round of 16.
Some nations confirmed for the third stage of the knockouts recorded comfortable victories, while others had late scares but pulled through.
Here’s what you need to know about the World Cup’s quarterfinal stage:
Which teams are in the quarterfinals so far?
Morocco
France
Norway
England
What’s the schedule of the remaining round-of-16 matches?
Portugal vs Spain on Monday, July 6, at 2pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, United States
USA vs Belgium on Monday, July 6, at 5pm (00:00 GMT, Tuesday) – Seattle Stadium, US
Switzerland vs Colombia on Tuesday, July 7, at 1pm (20:00 GMT) – BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, Canada
Argentina vs Egypt on Tuesday, July 7, at 12pm (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, US
What’s the full match schedule for the World Cup quarterfinals?
France vs Morocco on Thursday, July 9, at 4pm (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, US
USA/Belgium vs Portugal/Spain on Friday, July 10, at 12pm (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, US
Norway vs England on Saturday, July 11, at 5pm (19:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, US
Argentina/Egypt vs Switzerland/Colombia on Sunday, July 12, at 8pm (01:00 GMT, Monday) – Kansas City Stadium, US
Where can you watch the World Cup games?
Fans in the US can watch every match in English on Fox and FS1, with all 104 games also available to stream on Fox One and the Fox Sports app.
Spanish-language coverage in the US is available on Telemundo and Universo, with streaming through Peacock. Cord-cutters can also watch via services that carry Fox and FS1, including Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV.
In Canada, TSN is the primary English-language broadcaster, with selected matches also shown on CTV. French-language viewers can follow the action on RDS and RDS2.
Long before kick-off, thousands of Norway supporters had gathered outside the stadium, many draped in Viking helmets, waving giant red flags and singing songs that have become familiar throughout this World Cup.
There was excitement, naturally, but also something else – belief. A quiet confidence that this team could compete with anyone.
For years, Norway have watched major tournaments from afar despite producing world-class talent.
This is only their fourth World Cup appearance – the first since 1998. And the furthest they had gone before this year were two last-16 finishes 50 years apart, in 1938 and 1998.
They had not won a World Cup knockout tie until last Tuesday. Now they have won two in a row – the latest against the five-time winners and most-decorated side in the tournament.
“I said to the boys that I don’t think it’s 50-50, but we have a fair chance if we play at our best and have match-winners, and we had that,” Norway boss Solbakken said.
At full-time, it was Haaland who led the celebrations, banging the drum as he and his team-mates performed the iconic Viking Row with their supporters.
“This is just an insane day,” said Haaland. “It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history.”
Warnock said: “He is hugely emotional and rightly so. He plays in one of the best teams in world football, in terms of clubs.
“But when you play for Norway they’re not a huge name. Norway are starting to make history for themselves, and he is at the forefront of that.”
Solbakken said: “The whole nation is rowing together, and with that, I mean that we are having a great party here and in Oslo and in all the other big and small cities all the way through Norway.
“The rowing is in a way a symbol of that, and that we are all together. So I think it’s great days, it’s a great summer to be a fan – I think it’s better to be a fan than a coach.”
England were reduced to 10 men in their crucial World Cup last-16 match with Mexico and also had a controversial penalty awarded against them in a lively encounter at the Azteca Stadium.
The Three Lions led 2-0 in the first half thanks to two goals in as many minutes from Jude Bellingham, but Julian Quinones pulled a goal back just before the break.
However, the game exploded into life in the second half with two big moments.
First Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute after a review by the video assistant referee showed he clearly went in on Jesus Gallardo with his studs up.
The moment briefly buoyed Mexico’s fans but England soon went 3-1 up when Harry Kane converted a penalty.
“It is a clear red card,” Darren Cann, the 2010 World Cup final assistant referee said on BBC One.
“Quansah does play the ball first but that doesn’t matter in the laws of the game.
“He goes through and you can clearly see the studs on the shin. The referee has no choice but to show the red card.
“100% a red card.”
England restored their two goal advantage when Harry Kane converted a penalty, but Mexico again fought back when they were awarded a spot-kick.
Kane appeared to clip Brian Gutierrez and after referee Alireza Faghani went to the monitor to review the incident he awarded a penalty, which Raul Jimenez converted.
“It is a penalty,” added Cann.
“Kane unfortunately does kick the Mexico player’s foot. It is a little bit similar to the [Luka] Modric kick which England got a penalty for in the first group game. Kane is unaware of the player coming in behind.”
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart felt all the key decisions made were correct.
“I think the referee has come to the right decision on all three [both penalties and the red card],” he said on BBC One.
“I felt every single one… as soon as I saw the replays, my heart was in my mouth. Quansah deserved to go, Kane didn’t get the ball and Gordon [for the England penalty] got to the ball first.”
Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party, (from L to R) Choi Soo-jin, Joo Jin-woo, and Park Choong-kwon, submit a bill to an office of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, 09 June 2026, to seek an independent counsel probe into an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in the June 3 local elections at some polling stations and, critics say, infringed upon voters’ rights. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
July 5 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties clashed Sunday over a revised online information law set to take effect Tuesday, with the ruling Democratic Party calling it a safeguard against fake news and the main opposition People Power Party denouncing it as a threat to free speech.
The revised Information and Communications Network Act allows punitive damages of up to five times the actual damage when false or manipulated information is distributed online and causes harm. Repeat distribution can also trigger administrative fines of up to 1 billion won, or about $655,000.
The People Power Party called the measure an online “gag law” and said the standard for determining what counts as false or manipulated information is too vague.
Choi Soo-jin, the party’s chief floor spokesperson, said posts criticizing the government or raising reasonable suspicions could become targets of disputes.
“To avoid large damages and fines, platforms will have no choice but to preemptively delete posts even before illegality is clearly determined,” Choi said. “Excessive deletion and de facto prior censorship are structurally inevitable.”
People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo said he plans to file a constitutional challenge after the law takes effect.
“The law is rushed legislation that does not even have a body to determine false or manipulated information,” Joo wrote on social media. He said the measure violates constitutional protections against prior censorship as well as principles of proportionality and freedom of speech and the press.
The Democratic Party rejected the criticism and said the law is being misrepresented.
Jeon Su-mi, a party spokesperson, said the measure is not designed to silence ordinary citizens but to prevent malicious false information and so-called “cyber wreckers,” a Korean term for online personalities who profit from sensational or defamatory content.
“Not a single citizen who shares daily life, expresses legitimate political opinions or sharply criticizes power will be subject to punishment under this law,” Jeon said.
She accused the People Power Party of defending false information and online harassment by portraying basic social filtering as censorship.
The Democratic Party also criticized opposition proposals to limit regulation to already illegal information, saying such an approach would leave manipulated falsehoods unaddressed.
The dispute comes as South Korea continues to debate how to regulate online misinformation without chilling political speech. Supporters say the revised law is needed to hold malicious content creators accountable when false claims cause real harm. Critics say vague definitions could pressure platforms to over-remove content and discourage citizens from criticizing public officials.
The revised law was passed by the National Assembly in December under Democratic Party leadership.
A Jangbogo-III Batch-II submarine built by Hanwha Ocean. Photo courtesy of Hanwha Ocean
July 5 (Asia Today) — Canada is nearing a decision on a major submarine program that could open the North American defense market to South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean or strengthen Germany’s naval defense ties with Ottawa.
The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project is intended to replace Canada’s aging fleet of four Victoria-class submarines with as many as 12 new conventionally powered submarines. Industry estimates put the program at as much as 60 trillion won, or about $39.3 billion, when shipbuilding and long-term maintenance are included.
Canada is expected to select a preferred bidder soon, with the timing drawing attention because Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, from Monday to Wednesday.
A decision near the summit could carry a political message about Canada’s defense cooperation with allies. Germany has been pressing its case through government-level support for TKMS, while Hanwha Ocean is emphasizing delivery speed, pricing and proven South Korean submarine technology.
German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil recently visited a TKMS site and said Berlin was making a broad push to support defense cooperation with Canada. He said Germany’s high production standards and submarine-building capacity put TKMS in a strong position.
TKMS CEO Oliver Burkhard has also expressed confidence that the company can win the contract. The German company is stressing its more than 100 years of submarine experience and interoperability with NATO navies.
Hanwha Ocean is offering a model based on the KSS-III Batch-II submarine, a 3,000-ton-class hybrid diesel-electric submarine developed for the South Korean Navy. The submarine uses fuel-cell air-independent propulsion and lithium-ion batteries, allowing it to remain submerged for more than three weeks, according to the company.
The submarine has a range of more than 7,000 nautical miles, or about 8,055 miles.
Hanwha Ocean has proposed delivering the first submarine in 2032 if a contract is signed in 2026. The company has said it could deliver four submarines by 2035 and then supply one additional submarine each year.
Delivery timing is considered a key factor because Canada’s Victoria-class submarines are expected to retire in the mid-2030s.
Hanwha Ocean is also seeking to strengthen its bid through long-term maintenance, repair and overhaul plans, as well as industrial partnerships in Canada. The company has promoted cooperation in shipbuilding, steel, artificial intelligence, space and defense technology.
If Hanwha Ocean is selected as the preferred bidder, it would mark a major breakthrough for South Korea’s shipbuilding and defense industries in North America. It would also expand South Korea’s submarine exports beyond Asia and Europe.
But TKMS remains a strong competitor because Canada may value closer defense industrial cooperation with Germany and other NATO partners at a time of heightened security concerns in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
Four years ago Brazil were unlucky to go out of the World Cup to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Four years prior that they were also slightly unfortunate to fall to Belgium at the same stage. This time they failed even to get that far and there was nothing unlucky about their loss to Norway.
This, frankly, is an unmitigated disaster.
Carlo Ancelotti arrived with his band aid after a 4-1 thrashing by Argentina in March of last year.
Of his 16 games in charge of the national team he has won 10, drew three and lost three. He turned around a side that had struggled in World Cup qualifying, losing four out of five games prior to his arrival.
But that has not proved enough.
Brazil now need major surgery – starting with the area of the field where they used to be so strong, so creative, so entrancing – the midfield.
Turning their back on imaginative central midfield play has lost Brazil some friends along the way, and it is also losing them matches. The fact that they were comprehensively outpassed by Norway on a warm summer’s afternoon at this World Cup is simply astonishing – but it has to do with the make up of the side.
Ancelotti was a hostage to Casemiro. The first thing the coach did was recall the player from 18 months in the international wilderness.
There were plusses. Casemiro gave the team structure and freed Bruno Guimaraes, who until his early missed penalty against Norway – and what a difference that might have made – was enjoying a fine tournament.
But Casemiro’s vulnerability in open space was always a problem – clear in the second minute when Norway had a goal disallowed. And so the way Brazil defended was to drop deep and watch Norway exchange their passes and grow in confidence.
And then there is the absence of Lucas Paqueta, injured in the previous round against Japan. Ancelotti confessed that he did not have another player with the same characteristics. In came Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, which had the effect of making the team’s attack almost entirely dependent on quick direct breaks.
The coach made an error with his initial call up – having only five midfielders was a serious lapse, and when right back Wesley was injured in the final warm-up game Ancelotti used the opportunity to bring in potential Manchester United signing Ederson. But if the coach is to blame then so is the country.
Belgium’s football federation (RBFA) says it is “astonished” by FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend the one-match red card ban on USA striker Folarin Balogun and is “investigating all potential options” to uphold integrity in the sport.
The World Cup was plunged into uproar on Sunday after FIFA suspended a red card given to Balogun ahead of the host nation’s clash with Belgium, in a bombshell move welcomed by US President Donald Trump but slammed by Belgian officials.
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The extraordinary FIFA ruling means that Balogun is now free to play for the USA against Belgium on Monday in Seattle, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.
The Royal Belgian Football Association said it is “investigating all potential options” to “safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport”.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it’s April Fool’s Day,” added Belgium coach Rudi Garcia at a news conference.
“A lot of our thoughts and opinions are in the release,” Garcia said.
“We’re not defending the national team or the federation, we are defending football.”
Balogun had been set to miss Monday’s last-16 knockout clash with the Belgians after receiving a straight red card following a video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnian defender in a round-of-32 clash that the US won 2-0.
Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player’s team.
But FIFA said on Sunday that the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was offered.
It is the first instance of a red-carded player being allowed to play in his team’s subsequent match since the introduction of the yellow and red card rules at the 1970 edition of the World Cup.
‘We are not the bad men’
Top scorer Balogun has been key to the USA’s progress in the tournament, netting three times, and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team in Seattle.
The stakes are huge for the cohosts, whose strong start to the tournament has raised expectations to fever-pitch levels among the American public, and they are targeting a run to at least the quarterfinals. The last time the USA reached the quarters was in 2002.
Balogun himself had said on Friday that the red card ban was “something I have to just accept”.
However, the 25-year-old celebrated FIFA’s U-turn with an Instagram post of himself in the US team jersey and Michael Jackson’s Bad attached as the audio.
USA players and officials welcomed the news, which they received on their way to training on Sunday morning.
“I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,” defender Chris Richards said. “I think we were really excited because we found out through social media; it was cool. It was a lot of question marks, but just very, very happy and excited overall.”
“It feels right,” forward Christian Pulisic added. “Really excited for him to have this opportunity. To see the smile on his face and to be able to give us a boost tomorrow is great.”
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said that “it’s a fair decision because it should have never been a red card”, calling the punishment “too big” for an unintentional foul.
“It’s not that we are victims, but we are not the bad men, the mean ones here,” he said.
FIFA decision ‘a bit of a surprise’
In its statement, FIFA pointed to “article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code”, which allows the suspension to be “suspended for a probationary period of one year”.
Balogun would serve the ban only if he commits another similar foul in the next year, it said.
There is some precedent for the decision.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo earned a three-game ban for an elbow during qualifying last year, but had two matches of his ban suspended.
The move, which allowed Ronaldo to play in Portugal’s World Cup opener, drew criticism at the time.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said it was “a bit of a surprise” that Balogun was cleared to play just a day before the match.
“Had it been done earlier, we’d have been able to be mentally more prepared, perhaps,” he said.
FIFA’s decision has stirred up a social media storm, with mixed reactions to the suspension.
DR Congo footballer Yannick Bolasie expressed his dismay at the decision by saying the reaction to FIFA’s U-turn would have been quite different had it been taken in the Africa Cup of Nations.
England’s World Cup last-16 match with Mexico has been delayed by one hour because of severe weather and is set to kick off at 02:00 BST on Monday (Sunday, 19:00 local time).
There has been heavy rain in Mexico City during the day and reports of lightning above the Azteca Stadium, which is staging the match.
Play cannot begin until 30 minutes have passed since lightning was last detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.
Fifa held talks with the English and Mexican football associations on Friday after proposing the match be moved to 19:00 BST on Sunday (12:00 local time) before a U-turn resulted in the kick-off time remaining unchanged.
The game will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and app.
England head coach Charlotte Edwards praised her side’s performance in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, insisting “our time will come”, after England are beaten by seven wickets by Australia at Lord’s.
