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≡ FIFA WORLD CUP ≡
The 2026 FIFA World Cup round-of-16 will finish tomorrow. Today, the reverberations of FIFA’s reinstatement of American striker Falorin Balogun were being felt across the sport.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed during a Monday briefing that he spoke to FIFA President Gianni Infantino (SUI) about the red card given to Balogun during the U.S.-Bosnia & Herzegovina match:
“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say, you have to do this. This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino. He’s a smart, tough man, and his stock has gone through the roof because the job he has done has been great. I feel like we have to have all the best players on the field.”
“I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes that crashed each other and got entangled.“
Further: “A U.S. official told ABC News that Trump and Infantino discussed why a red card was issued, and that the U.S. government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process.”
Infantino confirmed that he spoke to Trump, noting “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. That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
¶
The European confederation, UEFA, went ballistic, posting Monday:
“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line. …
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition. …
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”
Red-card suspensions have been reduced or postponed from qualifying rounds to allow players to compete in the World Cup. The Associated Press reported:
“Balogun’s case seems to be the first since 1962 in which a sending-off during a World Cup match didn’t result in a suspension. On that occasion, the president of host nation Chile argued for Brazilian midfielder Garrincha to be allowed to play the final after he had kicked a Chilean opponent.”
The Belgian federation filed an appeal of the decision, but this was rejected on Monday: “The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
¶
As for the games:
● Spain 1, Portugal 0 ● These two ancient foes met in Arlington, and as usual, Spain was in possession from the start. But star forward Mikel Oyarzabal missed an open shot from the left side of the box in the 8th, just barely wide right. Portugal keeper Diogo Costa had to make back-to-back saves in the 16th off of shots by Lamine Yamal and Rodri to keep it scoreless.
Spain had 58% of possession and a 5-3 shots edge at the hydration break, still without a score. Portugal star strikers Joao Felix and Cristano Ronaldo both challenged Spain keeper Unai Simon in the 36th, but Simon saved both. In the 41st, a left-footed rocket from defender Nuno Mendes from just inside the box was deflected by Spanish defender Pedro Porro and hit the crossbar, bouncing away.
It was still 0-0 at half, with Spain holding 55% of the ball – much less than in its prior games – and leading on shots by 8-5 (and 3-2 for shots actually on goal). The second half was closely played, with both holding the ball, but still no score. At the second hydro break, Spain had 56% of possession and an 11-6 shots edge (but only 4-2 on shots on goal).
The “fourth quarter” was back and forth, but with tight defenses on both sides and a minimum of clear chances. Finally, at 90+1, off a free kick, Spain forward Ferran Torres had the ball above the box and sent a through ball into the middle of the box and midfielder Mikel Merino ran onto it and popped a shot to the left side of the Portugal net for the 1-0 lead very late.
At 90+6 in the final seconds, Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva got to a header in the box and put it just over the crossbar, and at 90+8, a final header try by midfielder Joao Neves missed and it ended at 1-0.
Spain finished at 56% and 15-10 on shots. They were better, barely, but Spain advances, barely. It ends the great World Cup career of Ronaldo.
● U.S. vs. Belgium ● Coming in Seattle (8 p.m. Eastern); a report will be posted after the match ends.
≡ PANORAMA ≡
The round-of-16 runs from 4 to 7 July:
Tuesday, 7 July:
● Argentina vs. Egypt: In Atlanta (12 p.m. Eastern)
● Switzerland vs. Colombia: In Vancouver (4 p.m. Eastern)
After 27 straight days of matches, 8 July will be a football-free days in preparation for the quarterfinals on 9-10-11 July:
Thursday, 9 July:
● France vs. Morocco: In Foxborough. (4 p.m. Eastern)
Friday, 10 July:
● Spain vs. U.S. or Belgium: In Inglewood. (3 p.m. Eastern)
Saturday, 11 July:
● Norway vs. England: In Miami Gardens. (5 p.m. Eastern)
● Argentina or Egypt vs. Switzerland or Colombia: In Kansas City. (9 p.m. Eastern)
¶
Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla posted racist messages on X about French star Kylian Mbappe after France’s tense and physical 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round-of-16, and after Mbappe ignored keeper Orlando Gill’s attempted handshake after the match:
“This brute hasn’t even learned to write; instead of mother’s milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees. You should’ve shown him the finger, Orlando Gill; I do it in the senate and nothing happens!!!”
Mbappe responded on X:
“Madame Celeste Amarilla, You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition.
“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
¶
Spanish reporter Romain Molina posted on X (computer translation of the original French):
“Several people on the UEFA board have been working behind the scenes for some time to put forward a candidate against Infantino [for FIFA President] in 2027
“Since the decision to curry favor with Trump (because that’s all it is), other leaders in world football – and not just European ones – have been discussing the idea of finding an alternative because ‘it’s no longer possible’
“That said, there’s often a difference between talking and acting, and a courage that the vast majority of football leaders sorely lack.”
¶
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