World Cup 2026 World Cup 2026: USA bounced out by Belgium after Balogun furore; backlash against Fifa builds – live ⚽ News and previews before the final last-16 match-ups ⚽ Player guide | Bracketology| Golden Boot | Email Luke LIVE Updated 17s ago Luke McLaughlin Tue 7 Jul 2026 08.44 BSTFirst published on Tue 7 Jul 2026 08.00 BST Share Key events 26m ago Belgium: 'Overturn this' 44m ago Preamble USA fans at the Fifa fan zone on the National Mall in Washington DC as their team lose 4-1 to Belgium Key events 26m ago Belgium: 'Overturn this' 44m ago Preamble BTL comments about BalogunGate, and other stuff, including soccer.
Can't help but feel this is not really about the football, is it?
I feel sorry for the US players and the genuine fans, and I also can't help but feel that much of this, being beyond their control, has left a rather bad smell in the air and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Geopolitically, the US is despised around the world, and that's what's really at the heart of this, isn't it?
I don’t even think it’s about the red card business, either.
Ronaldo’s suspension was deferred for this World Cup, and Bellingham’s disciplinary action was suspended for the European Championships, and there have been other decisions stretching way back into the past.
But the trouble is, when you have a US administration that makes a habit of making itself the ‘main character’ all the time and is, to say the least, hardly taciturn (Calvin Coolidge, where are you now?) or inconspicuous, then this is how we get here.
It is little solace to the genuine US fans or their team, but perhaps this might be a good moment for reflection.
As for the rest of the world, piling on the US team and their supporters when it’s not really them with whom you have a bone to pick is not necessarily the most magnanimous or sporting way to behave, either, is it?
EuropaKelt07 July 2026 8:39am I actually feel pretty bad for the United States players.
It's not their fault they were dragged into all this, and became the enemy of the piece.
Hosting a world cup and playing for your country on home soil, should be a dream for any player, but Trump ruined everything for them from start to finish. angryofbristol07 July 2026 8:33am Right, lets try to keep things focused on the football: The USA pretty much failed to turn up yesterday, have to assume that the Balogun events affected them.
Belgium were good for the first time this tournament, they scraped past senegal but were far too good for the US team, who have to view this world cup as a missed opportunity.
Belgium got their midfield balance just right and quite simply looked better than their opponents, who were completely flat.
Spain and Portugal were two good sides who cancelled each other out, Spain probably just about deserved it.
With the exception of the mexico v england game, the round of 16 games havent been great so far, not a patch on the round of 32.
Heres hoping tonights games redress the balance, looking forward to the quarter finals though, three great looking ties so far.
RHConnon07 July 2026 8:35am “I am sad to leave like this but I have given everything, always given my best,” Ronaldo said.
“I go with a clear conscience.
This is football, it is the life of a footballer.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
You have to carry on.
