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England is through to the quarterfinals after a 3-2 win over Mexico in what was likely the hardest-fought game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup thus far. After dealing with a wave of Mexican chances in the first 30 minutes, England responded with two goals against the run of play from Jude Bellingham, and the Three Lions found themselves clinging to a 2-1 lead at halftime. The second half was filled with drama. Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute for a studs-up tackle. Despite playing with 10 men, England struck again when Anthony Gordon drew a penalty, which was converted by Harry Kane. Mexico then responded with a penalty of their own after Kane was called for a foul in the box. From there, the big story of the game was England being able to defend its way to victory with a compact defense that sat deep and flawlessly handled everything that came its way. 1. Bellingham Is A Two-Way Star In the opening half, Mexico began the game on the front foot, playing great soccer, and just as it seemed as if El Tri was going to be the team to eventually find a breakthrough, it was England that surprisingly scored twice against the run of play. This was done with Bellingham making trailing runs into the box to get on the end of balls delivered from the right wing by Bukayo Saka and the second was from Harry Kane, who collected the ball out wide and hit Bellingham, making a late run for a goal. These were massively important psychological moments for England as it became the first time Mexico had conceded goals at this World Cup. Mexico, which had not lost a competitive game at this stadium since 2012, was clearly rattled. This was by far the best Bellingham had looked at the World Cup, and it was not just his goal scoring. Mexico responded well at the end of the first half and cut the lead to one through Julián Quiñones. But Mexico nearly equalized shortly after when a corner was flicked on, and it found a wide-open César Montes at the far post. Bellingham then came out of nowhere to poke it away and ensure that England had the lead at halftime. Then, at the start of the second half and right up to the red card to Jarell Quansah in the 54th minute, Bellingham was putting on a show in Mexico City. But his most important moments might have been in the final 15 minutes and 11 minutes of stoppage time when he was defending, winning duels, making tackles and constantly clearing the ball from danger. His stats were eye-opening. He only completed nine passes, but he won 9 out of 15 ground duels, had four clearances and three tackles. His aggression with his dribbles demanded a lot of respect from Mexican defenders. Bellingham covered so much ground in the second half, which was not easy in the very high altitude of Mexico City. But he was the biggest difference maker. Bellingham was not the only player who had a great performance. Winger Anthony Gordon was also instrumental in big moments that tilted the game in England’s favor. He was highly effective with his dribble and drew four fouls, one of which was a penalty. 2. Mexico Never Gave Up Mexico’s performance was very impressive, considering how it continued to fight in this game, even when it was in a bad situation. The start of this game was all Mexico, and it had England on its heels. Bellingham scored twice. Head coach Javier Aguirre deserves a lot of credit for how his team responded when its back was against the wall. The front line of Mexico all played extremely well. Wingers Roberto Alvarado and Julián Quiñones, along with center forward Raul Jiménez, were all so effective in the response. Quiñones scored his fourth goal of the tournament to pull one back at 2-1, and Jiménez again narrowed the deficit to make 3-2. Mexico was unable to find the equalizer; however, it was not without opportunities. Mexico was relentless and gave everything in the last 20 minutes, but England’s compact defense always had an answer. 3. England Was (Almost) Flawless On Defense In the 75th minute, with the score 3-2, England manager Thomas Tuchel made the decision that his team was done with attacking with 10 men. He subbed defenders Djed Spence and Daniel Burn into the game to try to defend their way to victory from that point. The last 15 minutes plus 11 minutes of stoppage time was tremendous defending from the Three Lions. In the 90th minute, Harry Kane was subbed out, and from there, it was almost always 10 English players behind the ball. English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had an incredible game. In the first half, he made two world-class saves against Raul Jiménez, and then in the second half, Pickford was instrumental coming out of his box, claiming clearances, or punching balls away. England’s size advantage paid huge dividends in stoppage time as Mexico was sending ball after ball into the box, but England always had the answer. Mexico had 49 crosses in this game, and England had no margin for error. Fortunately for Tuchel, his team was perfect down the stretch. 4. Game Of The Tournament? There is a strong argument to be made that this was the best game of the tournament up to this point (although Cape Verde vs. Argentina has something to say about that). There were wild swings of momentum, gutsy defending, quality goals, teams responding with their backs against the wall, an incredible stadium atmosphere — and it ended with both teams having left it all on the field. Right up to the end, it seemed as if anything could happen. It was incredibly dramatic. England deserved to win this game. It went into one of the most hostile venues in the world for an opposing team. It withstood a lot of Mexican pressure, defended with a red card, and it came up with goals when it needed.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

It will be great to get back to Seattle, a great soccer city that brought an incredible atmosphere to the stadium for the USA’s win over Australia during the 2026 World Cup group stage. This game is not going to be easy, as Belgium will present us with the biggest challenge of the tournament so far. That’s how it goes: the deeper your tournament run, the tougher the competition, regardless of opponent. We got a boost on Sunday morning when striker Folarin Balogun had his red card suspended. The USMNT likely had backup plans in place, but the unexpected FIFA reversal should allow coach Maurico Pochettino to keep his preferred starting lineup for a huge matchup. And Balogun should stay in the starting XI and retain his place during what has been a breakout tournament for him on a global stage. With three goals, he’s our top scorer at this point in the World Cup. Let’s get to your questions ahead of this massive game. Is every game the rest of the tournament the biggest in men’s soccer history? — @jacobimoore.92 Simply put, yes. At every stage, with every success, the stakes and opportunity are magnified. The dream continues to build and become that much more real for everyone involved — fans, coaches and especially the players. Everyone in the country takes notice with every extra moment. In 2010, after our moment at the World Cup, it was different. After the 2010 World Cup, we were all over the place in Los Angeles, and there was a huge spotlight. Now, though, there are many more means of consuming things today — social media, television, streaming — that amplify it all. Do you think Pulisic will finally get his “World Cup moment” against Belgium? — @benjinator800 He already had one in the last tournament in 2022 with his game-winner against Iran, but there are going to be many more opportunities as this run continues. As a former player, what has it been like following this US run? — @blake.newton48 It’s been emotional. This group is fun, and it has given everyone hope. Being in the stadiums for these games to take in everything to do with the atmosphere, the post-game celebrations — it has been amazing. Who should raise the 12th man flag aka the US flag in Seattle? — @sullyvol The first names that come to mind with Seattle connections that would get the crowd going: Ken Griffey Jr. or Marshawn Lynch. Another great option: Clint Dempsey because he played in that stadium for the Sounders. Mo Salah is the best Mo in the game. — @Reece617707 You’re not wrong. A shoutout to Mo Johnston, my first coach as a professional with Toronto FC.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SEATTLE STADIUM — Through more than 20 years covering the U.S. men’s national team in countries across the globe, I have never seen an American squad play with the ferocity that Mauricio Pochettino’s version has at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. I’ve never seen so much quality, so much depth, never seen attackers who can beat elite defenders off the dribble the way Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest have consistently this summer. The USA has never had a scorer as efficient and well-rounded as Folarin Balogun who, as the whole world now knows, is now eligible to play in Monday’s pivotal round of 16 match against Belgium (8 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One). It has never had players better at their respective positions than box-to-box midfielder Weston McKennie or left back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson. I’ve never witnessed mainstream America get behind this squad like it has over the last four weeks, not even in 2002, when a Brooklyn-born lacrosse coach named Bruce Arena somehow led a team that had finished dead last at the World Cup four years prior within a whisker of the semifinals. With three wins and nine goals in four games heading into Monday’s contest, there is no doubt: this is the best the U.S. has ever played in a World Cup. And none of it will matter if Pochettino’s side can’t win this next one, too. Soccer’s quadrennial bonanza is the ultimate results business. With a victory in Monday’s match, Pochettino will never have to buy a glass of wine in this country again. If he loses, it wouldn’t be a mere disappointment. It would make Pochettino — who has repeatedly said that his goal is to leave a legacy behind whenever he moves on — the architect of a very public failure on home soil. The stakes are that binary, as much as the 54-year-old Argentine tried to downplay at his pre-match press conference Sunday. “I think the players are responsible to create the legacy,” he said. “I am a small part, because in the end, it’s the players that are creating the emotional relationship with the fans.” Maybe. But Pochettino arrived with a reputation as a truly all-world coach, a man who had succeeded at the highest levels of the European club game. The expectations here are therefore elevated, especially given all the Americans have already accomplished this summer. Monday will be the sixth round of 16 game the USA has played since 1990. The Americans were eliminated at this same stage four years ago, and in 2014, and in 2010 — and none of those games were played in America, much less America’s best soccer city. Sure, the hope is that the millions of new USA fans who have been created since that World Cup opening 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12 will stick around no matter the outcome on Monday. Pochettino believes they will. “Tomorrow, win or not win,” Pochettino said, “the legacy is already there.” But America loves winners. The U.S. men will never get a more favorable first-round draw than they got at this World Cup, and they will never have a better opportunity to advance to the last eight than they have here in Seattle. Part of the reason soccer began exploding from coast-to-coast over the last three decades was the men’s national team’s obvious potential. I remember coming home from little league baseball practice one day in 1993 to find my Scottish father, with a smile on his face and a beer in his hand, watching the U.S. close out a 2-0 victory over England. That 2002 team upset title dark-horse Portugal in its opener. Just in the last 15 years alone, the Americans beat Italy in Genoa, Germany in Cologne and the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Hell, seven months after missing the cut for the 2018 World Cup, the worst U.S. team in modern history held eventual champs France to a 1-1 tie in Lyon. Pochettino lost his first six games against European nations, finally breaking that streak last week against tiny Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hardly a world-beater, with all due respect to the Golden Lillies. Now the former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager’s mandate — his responsibility — is to beat an aging Belgium side and advance to the quarters. Losing in the round of 16, again, this time in a 70,000-seat venue filled overwhelmingly with their own supporters, in front of what will surely be the most watched soccer game in U.S. history, can’t be waved away as acceptable. Not for a coach with Pochettino’s résumé, not for a guy who is getting paid at least four times what his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, earned in bowing out to the Dutch at the same stage at Qatar 2022. Jürgen Klinsmann’s 2014 squad took Belgium to extra time in the round of 16 before succumbing. Bob Bradley did the same in 2010, losing to Ghana after winning a group that included England. And while Arena’s U.S. didn’t survive group play in 2006, that quarterfinal run 24 years ago in Korea/Japan remains the Americans’ best showing since the inaugural World Cup in 1930. None of those coaches had the advantage of playing at home. Any excuse Pochettino might have had not to beat the Red Devils evaporated on Monday, when FIFA controversially ruled that the red card Balogun received against the Bosnians would not rule him out vs. the Belgians. The status quo won’t cut it — not this year, with this coach, with this team, in this moment. This is the game that Pochettino was hired to win.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SEATTLE — Rudi Garcia thought it was an April Fool’s joke. Belgium’s manager was floored when he first heard that U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension had been rescinded and that he would be available to play in what’s now becoming an even more dramatic round of 16 clash here on Monday. “I didn’t know that at FIFA’s headquarters, July 5 is the same thing as April 1,” Garcia said at a press conference on Sunday afternoon. “It’s a discovery for me.” The biggest story at the World Cup right now is FIFA’s stunning reversal of Balogun’s already controversial red card from the USA’s round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute after a lengthy VAR review overturned the original no-call, forcing the Americans to play the rest of the match with 10 men. A red card typically carries an automatic ejection and at least a one-match suspension. The Belgian federation released a statement saying it was “astonished” and is “investigating all potential options” regarding FIFA’s decision. Meanwhile, the emotions couldn’t have been more different on the U.S. side of things. Players were buzzing at training on Sunday morning, and manager Mauricio Pochettino – speaking after Garcia – was smiling and appeared light at his press conference. “I think we celebrate that decision,” Pochettino said in front of a packed room of reporters. “We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes in a decision that was completely unfair. “But it’s not only because I am the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, I need to defend my side. I think 99.9% [of people] agree that was an unfair red card.” Pochettino called Garcia a “great coach” and a “great person” and understands his frustration. But added, “everyone that really loves the sport and trusts its ethical integrity, we all celebrate that decision.” Plus, as Pochettino pointed out, there’s a recent precedent. FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee made a similar decision that allowed superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Portugal’s first two games after he received a red card during his squad’s final World Cup qualifier. Under FIFA rules, he was supposed to have been banned for three games, but instead only missed one pre-tournament friendly. Pochettino said he didn’t learn Balogun would be available until Sunday morning, ahead of the team’s training session. He was asked, but didn’t really comment, on any posts or the reported involvement of President Donald Trump. “I was training, then climbing into the shower, eating so quick, and was taking the coffee into the car,” Pochettino joked. “I didn’t have time to see social media.” A U.S. Soccer spokesman told reporters Sunday that “we were engaged in the process with the disciplinary committee.” Pochettino said he was not involved. “I was focusing and trying to prepare the team to face Belgium,” Pochettino said. Pochettino was asked, though, if he was surprised that this has become such a massive story. “That is the power of this sport,” Pochettino said frankly. “That is amazing. It doesn’t surprise me. I came from a culture in Argentina and Europe that football – soccer – is more than a religion. It doesn’t surprise me that in this country, the feeling is starting to grow so quick. “And yes, for sure, if we keep going – pushing maybe one more step tomorrow – you will see that the sport is magic, that the sport is amazing, is so powerful. It can unite people, unite a country like us.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Surprised? Then you haven’t been paying attention. Norway just beat Brazil, 2-1, to reach its first-ever quarterfinal, and the wildest part is that it wasn’t even a smash-and-grab. Norway had nearly 70% possession. Norway controlled the tempo. Norway had Erling Haaland, the only superstar who showed up today. Brazil had 34% possession, a missed penalty, a missed sitter, and now a very long flight home. The five-time champions are out in the round of 16. Sit with that. Then remember Norway has never — not once, not ever — lost to Brazil. Four games before tonight, zero defeats. Make it five. Here are my four takeaways from a night Norwegian football will never forget: 1. Brazil Crash Out. And Honestly? It Earned It. Let’s cut to the chase and say the truth. Carlo Ancelotti’s team simply wasn’t good enough. It lost its aura. The “jogo bonito” is long gone. Brazil set up like a provincial — read that again, Brazil, at a World Cup, barely touching the ball — and there was zero swagger in its play, zero Brazilian identity, zero of anything that makes that legendary yellow shirt mean something. Just a gray, joyless side waiting to counter. And when the moments came, the finishing was criminal. Ørjan Nyland saved Bruno Guimarães’s first-half penalty. Then Endrick, played clean through by Vinícius Júnior, produced a first touch so heavy it needed its own boarding pass and poked the sitter wide. Endrick perhaps showed why Ancelotti was so reluctant to use him in this tournament. That’s the game, right there. Neymar’s stoppage-time penalty was useless, and the trash-talking between him and Nyland before and after the penalty was quite frankly an embarrassment for the former superstar now in the twilight of his career. Brazil will miss the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 36 years. On this evidence, nobody should be shocked. 2. My Dark Horse Delivered. You Were Warned. I called Norway my favorite dark horse before this tournament, and nights like this are exactly why. This wasn’t luck. Norway stepped onto the field with the clear intention of dominating from the opening whistle. They pressed them ferociously, and dictated the tempo like a giant of the game. Martin Ødegaard ran the game. Patrick Berg even had a curler chalked off for offside. Brazil chased shadows in their own round of 16. If you watched qualifying, none of this is new. Norway went a perfect eight-for-eight, scored 37, conceded five, and beat Italy twice — including 4-1 at the San Siro. Haaland scored 16 times in eight qualifiers. Brazil? The worst qualifying campaign in their history. Fifth place, six defeats, humiliated 4-1 in Buenos Aires, three managers deep before Ancelotti. One team arrived in form. It just wasn’t the one in yellow. 3. The Ramifications For Brazil Are Seismic. The historic weight of this result is hard to overstate. Brazil, out before the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990. The wait for a sixth star now stretches beyond 2002 into a sixth straight World Cup — territory this nation has never known. Tactically, Ancelotti got it wrong. He surrendered midfield to Ødegaard and company, turned Brazil into a Catenaccio (tactically defensive door-bolt) side, and asked an aging spine — Casemiro, Danilo, Marquinhos, all thirtysomethings — to survive Norway’s press. Japan exposed those legs a week ago. Norway buried them. But let’s be honest: This was bigger than one game plan. This Brazilian team is flawed at its core — old in the wrong places, timid in possession and toothless in the box. The flaws that flickered in qualifying and against Japan showed up at the worst possible moment, in the biggest game. Flawed teams don’t survive knockout football. Brazil didn’t either. 4. One Superstar Showed Up. His Name Is Erling Haaland. Vinícius Júnior versus Erling Haaland was the billing. Only one of them answered. As Zlatan Ibrahimović said on air: Haaland needs one touch to score one goal. He got two, he scored two. A towering header in the 79th minute to break Brazil, then a thunderbolt from the top of the box in the 90th that Alisson Becker could only wave at. A brace, seven goals in the tournament, level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the Golden Boot race, and the single greatest result in the history of Norwegian football delivered on his back. And spare a roar for Ørjan Nyland, who was magnificent again — the penalty save from Guimarães, a string of stops on Rayan and Bruno Guimarães, and one absurd backwards fingertip claw off his own post. Norway is in the quarterfinals for the first time ever. England or Mexico await in Miami. Believe it now?​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

All eyes are on the USA on Monday night in Seattle with one position that will be everyone’s focus. Star striker Folarin Balogun being available for the United States is obviously a massive storyline. Ricardo Pepi — the presumptive replacement as the striker — is a different player, albeit one who’s very capable. It’s still a boost for the USA to have Balogun available. Let’s break down the matchup. The obvious storyline for the USA lineup entering this game was Balogun’s absence and Ricardo Pepi likely replacing him as the starting striker. Overall, there’s a clear starting lineup that’s preferred by head coach Mauricio Pochettino, so he’ll likely stick with Balogun starting for the U.S. ahead of a massive game. But maybe Pepi sees some action too. With Pepi, though, you would get someone who works hard defensively and is a very good presser of the opposing defense further up the field. Balogun is probably a bit more of a threat with his runs behind opposing defenses, while Pepi is not known for his speed to get in behind the back line. Pepi is still lethal in the 18-yard box, where it’s less about making runs behind defenses, using speed or tricky dribbling to get a shot off. While Balogun can use his speed to make things happen, Pepi finds the right positions and has very good technique when finishing. USA Player To Watch I think the focus of this game will be on Christian. It will be crucial for him to create moments throughout the entire attack. I think he’s going to be the guy who makes everything tick going forward. I don’t expect us to have loads of time on the ball to pick a pass in this game. I see success in this one against Belgium coming from wide position and getting the ball into the box with late runners, whether it’s Balogun or Weston McKennie making a run, Sergiño coming in on the weak side or Malik Tillman near the top of the box. Any good moments for us in attack are likely to come from Christian on the left wing, getting in attacking positions and then picking his spots to make a key pass with players crashing in to attack it. Belgium has a right to be frustrated, but on the other hand, it’s not like it won’t have time to change the game plan. For me, it won’t make a massive difference in terms of preparation. All you have to do is look at clips of the opponent, and you’ll quickly recognize the differences between Pepi and Balogun, which are pretty straightforward. I don’t think Belgium should try to make this a distraction from the preparation it’s in the middle of right now. It needs to focus on itself and how it’s going to best prepare the team, without getting drawn into the drama that’s unfolding in front of our eyes with this news. Belgium will definitely have the most quality of any team that we’ve faced so far. It will be the toughest challenge in terms of an opponent that can keep possession and have talent around the field. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. It’s a lot of the old guard that has thrived over the past decade-plus. Thibaut Courtois is still in goal with Kevin De Bruyne in midfield and Romelu Lukaku leading the attack. If you look at Belgium’s games in this tournament already, though, it’s not dominating the ball. For example, Egypt had 46% possession against the Red Devils in the group stage. With that, I’d expect close to a 50-50 split on Sunday in Seattle. Belgium Player To Watch Even though he came off in the 56th minute against Senegal in the round of 32, it’s still Doku. De Bruyne is getting older, but his mobility was never his biggest threat. That’s his passing ability. Doku brings a big challenge with his pace and dribbling, one that was on display when these teams faced off back in March in a friendly. Alex Freeman is going to have another good performance on the right side of the USA’s defense to contain the Manchester City winger.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Star forward Folarin Balogun will be able to play for the U.S. men’s national team in its round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday after a surprising reversal by FIFA. But that decision might make the USA squad a villain for the rest of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas argued. “Long live Article 27. If you’ve got a problem with it, take it up with FIFA,” Lalas said during FOX Sports’ “World Cup Live.” “This is some surprising, but very, very welcome news to the U.S. men’s national team.” “I will say this: It is now USA vs. the world after this decision,” Lalas continued, “because any support or a treaty or benefit of the doubt kind of just went out the window with this, because we will be seen after this, and we’re already starting to see, some of this as being given special treatment right now. But you know what, it doesn’t matter. Us against the world, that’s fine.” The FIFA Disciplinary Committee initially gave Balogun an automatic one-game red card suspension and, with the reversal, he has since placed him on a one-year probation under Chapter 4, Article 27 of the disciplinary code due to his red card in the USA’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun scored the game-winning goal in the 2-0 victory but was later shown a straight red card following a VAR review. Standard protocols suggest the play should not have been flagged to referee Raphael Claus, who had not cautioned Balogun on the field during the live sequence. Because U.S. Soccer had no formal avenue to appeal the decision under standard regulations, the governing body stepped in directly to apply the probation clause. Beyond the decision to clear the USA’s leading goalscorer, the timing of the decision remains a primary point of criticism. The ruling was confirmed just one day before the knockout match, forcing both coaching staffs to adjust their plans. Thierry Henry, who coached Belgium as an assistant manager during two separate stints from 2016-2018, noted that the reversal places an unfair burden on the Belgian side, which had spent days planning for an American lineup without its primary striker. “That’s exactly what it is for Belgium, breaking news,” Henry explained. “That must have broke their spirit a tiny bit because also you prepare the game to play a certain way and then suddenly, you have to change also your preparation of the game.” Lalas agreed with the Belgian perspective, but he said the USA squad shouldn’t take it into account. “I do agree with you that it hurts the preparation for Belgium. [and] what they prepared for, and now they’re going to have to change it,” Lalas said. “But I don’t think Mauricio Pochettino cares.” With Balogun returning to the starting lineup and Ricardo Pepi likely reverting to the bench, Lalas concluded that having the full complement of attacking players is necessary to advance. “In order for the US to win this game tomorrow, right here against Belgium, they need all guns blazing, and without a gun in Flo Balogun, that was a big, big miss,” Lalas explained. “Happy to see this guy who’s had such a wonderful tournament, and we don’t want to be deprived of stars, and make no mistake, he is a star.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In a stunning turn of events, United States mens’ national team striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play vs. Belgium despite receiving a red card in the Americans’ World Cup round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The news comes just two days after FIFA ruled that Balogun would indeed serve his automatic one-game suspension for receiving a red card with no path for the U.S. to appeal. So, what changed? Here is everything to know about why Balogun will be available for USA vs. Belgium on Monday at Seattle Stadium: Why Can Balogun Play? The FIFA Disciplinary Committee ruled that Balogun’s suspension would be suspended for one year, citing Chapter 4, Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code on suspension of implementation of disciplinary measures, which notes that the “judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.” When Will Balogun Serve His Suspension? Folarin Balogun will only have to serve his one-match suspension if he commits another infringement of “similar nature and gravity during the year-long probationary period.” In the event that happens, FIFA will revoke the suspension and the sanction will be enforced “without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.” Has This Happened Before? Yes. Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo directly benefited from a similar ruling before the tournament. Ronaldo received a direct red card during Portugal’s final World Cup qualifier for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea in the back. The FIFA disciplinary code typically mandates a strict three-match ban for violent conduct, which would have ruled Ronaldo out of the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued a suspended suspension, which allowed Ronaldo to serve his one-match suspension in a pre-World Cup friendly and deferred the remaining two matches under a one-year probationary period. Why Was Balogun Suspended? Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the second half by referee Rafael Claus after VAR review showed that he stepped on Bosnia and Herzegovina player Tarik Muharemović’s ankle.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Sunday at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup features two very unpredictable games in the round of 16. Brazil and Norway will open the day in New Jersey with Erling Haaland looking to continue his impressive scoring run against the five-time champions who suffered a real scare in the round of 32 against Japan. The second game takes us to Mexico City where England will need to play much better than it has so far at the tournament against a Mexico team that has won all four of its games without conceding a goal. Here is all you need to know for Sunday at the World Cup. When: Sunday, July 5, 4 p.m. ET Where: New York/New Jersey TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One This will be a matchup of elite attacking teams when Brazil and Norway meet at New York New Jersey Stadium in the round of 16. When looking at their histories against each other and at this stage of the tournament, there are lot of conflicting trends. Beginning with its 2-1 win over Brazil at the 1998 World Cup, Norway enters this game unbeaten in its last four games (two wins, two draws) against the five-time World Cup champions. Brazil, meanwhile, has won nine of its last 10 round of 16 games at the World Cup but has lost all six of its World Cup knockout games (including the 2014 third place game) against European opponents following its win over Germany in the 2002 final. Norway enters this game with the strongest team it has ever had. At this World Cup, Haaland is playing in his first major international tournament and has not disappointed, having scored five goals in three games, and he now has 60 goals for Norway in just 53 caps. In this game, the task for Norway is to absorb Brazil’s pressure and look to break out quickly on counter attacks. Ståle Solbakken’s team will likely sit in a mid-block and look for central midfielders Martin Ødegaard and Sander Berge to lead quick transitions that typically are fed out wide before looking to set up Haaland. While Haaland has been excellent at the World Cup, the key to Norway’s success to this point has been its excellent play from out wide, especially on the left side. Left winger Antonio Nusa and left back David Møller Wolfe have both been dangerous in creating opportunities for themselves and for Haaland. Another issue for Norway is the current heat wave currently hitting the eastern part of the United States. Will that play a role? Can Norway handle the physical demands of playing in high temperatures? For Brazil, the team will likely need another big performance from Vinícius Junior, who has been excellent at this World Cup with four goals and an assist. While Vini Jr. featured four years ago in Qatar, this World Cup was when he was supposed to spearhead Brazil’s attack. So far, he lived up to expectations. The problem for Norway, is that Brazil is historically always deep, and this team is no different. Even if Viní Jr. is held off the scoreboard, Brazil boasts several other top scoring options. In the narrow 2-1 win over Japan in the round of 32, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli and Manchester United midfielder Casemiro were the goal scorers while Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal’s Gabriel picked up assists. On the injury front, Brazil is missing two starters as both Lucas Paqueta and Raphinha are sidelined with hamstring injuries. The biggest question heading into this game is how Brazil will defensively try to stop Norway in transition. If Carlo Ancelotti’s team struggles with that, Norway can definitely pull off the upset. The problem for Brazil is that it is no secret how Norway plays. No team has been able to stop the Scandinavian side when it fields a top lineup. Haaland has scored goals in the last 13 consecutive competitive internationals he has played for Norway, scoring 25 goals in that run. This is a clash of two top offensive teams, but it will be decided on which team plays the best defense. Player to Watch While Brazil has many ways it can beat opponents, Norway is far more limited. Fortunately for The Vikings, its main weapon, Haaland, is one of the best forwards of his generation. If he can find openings in Brazil’s defense, it might be enough to spark an upset. He is certainly going to be the most consequential player in this game. When: Sunday, July 5, 8 p.m. ET Where: Mexico City TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Sunday’s nightcap between Mexico and England features a matchup between two teams who have deep aspirations of making a deep run in this tournament. Played at the iconic Mexico City Stadium where Pelé and Diego Maradona were crowned World Cup champions, this will be the biggest test either team has faced so far in this tournament. Entering this game, Mexico has been flawless at this World Cup, defeating all four of its opponents with clean sheets in every game. It has outscored its opponents 8-0 during the tournament. Mexico’s star player has been winger Julián Quiñones, who was the leading scorer in the Saudi Pro League for the 2025-26 season with 33 goals in 31 games for Al Qadsiah. But here at the World Cup, Quiñones has three goals and an assist, with his best performance coming in the 2-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 32 where he shined against a team that conceded just five goals in 18 World Cup qualifiers in South America. But Mexico has several different scoring options. At age 35, forward Raul Jiménez has two goals and has been playing as if he was a decade younger. Chivas attacking midfielder Roberto Alvarado has three assists in this tournament and has been critical to keeping Mexico on the front foot in each game. Then there is midfielder Gilberto Mora, who at age 17 is the youngest player in the tournament and is a budding star. Mora earned the start against Ecuador and was dangerous throughout the first half. For Mexico to be successful against an English team that hopes to lift the trophy on July 19, it is going to require another big effort from its defense, which has been the best in the tournament. This will be, by far, the best attack Mexico has faced. Central defenders César Montes and Johan Vásquez, along with fullbacks Jorge Sánchez and Jesús Gallardo deserve a lot of credit for the team’s defensive success for posting four clean sheets has been a total team effort. Javier Aguirre has his team playing with so much raw intensity that no team has been able to match it. England has a very tough assignment in this game. Mexico has not lost a competitive home game since 2013. The venue for this game gives Mexico one of the sport’s greatest home field advantages. The Three Lions have struggled since its 4-2 win over Croatia in its opening game. The scoreless draw with Ghana showed an offense that can sputter when Harry Kane in not on the top of his game. The win over Panama was pedestrian. In the round of 32 against DR Congo, England needed two late goals from Kane to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win and avoid an embarrassingly early exit. For England, the team is deep with wingers, but none of the options have been consistent at this tournament and that makes it hard for head coach Thomas Tuchel to know who to start. For example, in the win over Croatia, starter Anthony Gordon struggled while Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford were excellent off the bench to propel England to the win. Then against DR Congo, England was on the verge of a loss before Gordon replaced Rashford in the 60th minute and assisted on both of Kane’s goals. Tuchel faces a difficult task of getting his starting lineup right and, aside from the expected win over Panama, Tuchel has yet to do so in this tournament. Playing Mexico in Mexico City will be England’s toughest challenge so far, and Tuchel cannot afford to have England start the game poorly as digging out of a hole might be too difficult. Another difficult challenge for England in this game, apart from a good Mexico team and a large and mostly hostile crowd, is altitude. That has not been an issue with the location of its first four games, but now England will have to play at 7,220 feet above sea level and that has historically been very, very difficult for opposing teams to handle. It is not going to be easy for England, and Tuchel will need to be prepared with a starting lineup that is very fit and a roadmap of when to strategically use its substitutes. Player to Watch Along with Haaland, Kane is one of the best center forwards of his generation. Thus far in the tournament, Kane has been very effective in bailing England out of otherwise subpar performances. In this game, Kane will face the tournament’s best defensive team that will be highly focused on stopping him. But even if Kane can be stopped from scoring, he can also be very valuable drifting back into midfield and helping create plays. If Kane struggles in this game, it could be a very long day for the Three Lions. On the other hand, if Kane can find the back of the net early, it will make life easier for England to deal with the crowd and the altitude the rest of the way.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SEATTLE — As the story goes, Ricardo Pepi hung up the phone on former U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter when he was informed he didn’t make the 2022 World Cup roster. Less than four years later, Pepi was driving in the car with his father when he received a WhatsApp notification from Mauricio Pochettino. The message? He was part of the 26-man squad heading to this summer’s tournament on home soil. “I showed it to him, and he immediately started crying a little bit,” said Pepi — who was coached by his dad when he was a kid — back in May ahead of the USA’s World Cup campaign. “Being left off is obviously not nice, but [I’ve been] using that in a good way to be able to be in this World Cup. I felt like it helped me grow. It matured me a little bit. So it was part of the process.” Pepi has appeared in all four of the USA’s World Cup games so far, starting two. He may get a massive opportunity on Monday against Belgium in the round of 16 matchup at Seattle Stadium due to starting striker Folarin Balogun’s suspension after being shown a controversial red card in last week’s resilient win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are a few different ways Pochettino could adjust his lineup to account for Balogun’s absence. The simplest option would be to keep the other 10 starters intact and plug in either Pepi or Haji Wright up top, even though each brings a different skill set. Or Pochettino could opt for a more creative tweak, similar to when he paired Pepi and Balogun together against Australia after Christian Pulisic was sidelined with a calf injury. We won’t know Pochettino’s tactical approach until kickoff, but if Pepi gets the start, his teammates have full confidence in him. “His tenacity and energy has been unreal to be honest,” Tyler Adams told reporters ahead of training this week on the campus of the University of Washington. “I’ve played with Pepi quite a bit, but what he’s done against the ball has been huge for us and also for our wingers so they don’t have to do necessarily as much work. He’s holding the ball up really well and when he gets in front of goal, we know he can score. “Obviously he hasn’t done it yet, but we know that he’s a good finisher in and around the goal.” Pepi had a chance in the second half against Paraguay, but otherwise has struggled to make much of an impact this tournament. His recent club form, however, suggests that could change. The 23-year-old Texan is coming off a stellar season with PSV Eindhoven, helping the Dutch club win a third straight Eredivisie title. He scored 19 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions despite missing most of January and February with a broken arm. Before the injury, he had scored in six consecutive league matches. He regained his form after returning from injury, finishing the club season with six goals in his final five appearances. He carried that momentum into the Americans’ pre-tournament friendly against Senegal, and although he didn’t score, his chemistry with Pulisic was evident as he recorded an assist and helped spark the attack. “Pepi is a killer,” Pochettino told reporters in May. “He’s a player that has the capacity to read where the space is to the ball, arrive to the ball, and have the possibility to score and to create chances, sometimes, from nowhere.” And big European clubs have noticed. Earlier this year, for example, rumors swirled about a potential summer transfer to Fulham. It never materialized, but a strong performance against Belgium could reignite interest. “His finishing is really good — he can be really important with his finishing for us,” Sergiño Dest, who plays with Pepi at PSV, said Saturday. “And also he’s comfortable playing. He played some great games already. He fits in the team well. He’s a different type of striker, but now, if he plays [against Belgium], it’s his chance to show what he’s capable of.” Losing your leading goalscorer during the knockout stage of a World Cup might sound like the worst-case scenario, but the Americans aren’t stressed. Pochettino has built the group to value the team over individuals, and it’s seeped into their identity. “One man’s down, the next steps up,” defender Chris Richards said after the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We’re more than just one player.” Balogun, who spoke to the media on Friday, said he will do everything to support the team – and Pepi in particular if his name is called. “Whatever he needs, whatever he needs,” Balogun said. “I’m not the sort of person who’s going to bombard you — I’m quite a reserved person in general — but whatever he needs. And not just him, but anyone in the team. They need any advice or anything in any way I can help. I’m more than happy to do that. “I’ve always said the team comes first, so whether I’m out there or not, it will be no different.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports