World Cup 2026: USA 1-4 Belgium – Folarin Balogun’s Red Card Reprieve Little Help as Co-hosts Dumped Out After Defensive Howlers

By Ron Walker, Football Journalist

Match report as USA’s World Cup dreams deservedly ended by Belgium in Seattle, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice before half-time and Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku adding second-half goals to seal a quarter-final date with Spain. Folarin Balogun’s red card reprieve appeared to hinder rather than help his country as an out-of-sorts USA side were thrashed 4-1 by Belgium to end the co-hosts’ World Cup dreams. (Photo: Charles De Ketelaere’s goal for Belgium).

The PR circus following FIFA’s decision to suspend his red card and Donald Trump’s involvement in the supposedly independent process appeared to only galvanise the Americans’ opponents and overwhelm them as Belgium left their hosts sleepless in Seattle to set up a quarter-final tie with Spain. The Europeans were particularly dominant before half-time and could have been ahead inside a minute when Timothy Castagne forced Matt Freese into a full-stretch save, while the largely peripheral Balogun had just 11 touches in the opening period.

The USA showed none of their usual hallmarks of Pochettino verve and were unusually passive as schoolboy defending for each of the Belgian goals put paid to their World Cup hopes. For Charles De Ketelaere’s early opener, three players hesitated to intercept Leandro Trossard’s bouncing cross, allowing Nicolas Raskin to steal in and square for the Atalanta forward to tap home. Shortly after the first hydration break, the hosts were level courtesy of Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick – their only shot on target of the opening period – before they switched off again 116 seconds later when De Ketelaere nodded home Trossard’s hanging cross at the back post.

Pochettino finally got through to his side at the break, but just as momentum appeared to be turning in their favour, they shot themselves in the foot yet again as Freese was caught in possession outside his area and substitute Hans Vanaken’s long-range effort trickled beyond Tim Ream’s clumsy attempted interception. Romelu Lukaku’s late fourth, following another defensive howler from Chris Richards, mattered little that point with the USA’s World Cup hopes already up in smoke – and questions to be asked about whether Trump’s intervention was worth the media furore which appeared to negatively affect his national side. (Photo: Ronaldo yesterday).

Cristiano Ronaldo: Portugal Captain Confirms he has Played his Last World Cup Match But Won’t Make Rash Decision on International Future

By Sam Blitz, Football Journalist

Portugal exited the World Cup via a 1-0 last 16 defeat to Spain, marking Cristiano Ronaldo’s final match in the competition; the 41-year-old admitted he will not play in the World Cup again – but needs time to think about his overall Portugal future. Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he has played in his last World Cup game – but says he won’t make any “rash decisions” on whether he has played his final game for Portugal.

Ronaldo exited the World Cup for the final time as his Portugal side lost 1-0 to Spain thanks to Mikel Merino’s stoppage-time winner in the last 16 in Dallas. The 41-year-old was emotional at the full-time whistle, as his career-long dream for a World Cup trophy disappeared forever. He will go down as one of the best players to never lift the famous international trophy. After the game, Ronaldo addressed the media to discuss his international future in general. “I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this,” he said.

“I gave it my all. I did my best. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions. I don’t decide anything in the heat of the moment. Now is not important whether I will continue [to play]. Tomorrow I will get up the same way I got up today: with a clear conscience. I played 23 years in the national team and won three titles. Before Cristiano, Portugal had not won anything. The Euros was the most important. For me, 2016 has the same dimension as a World Cup, honestly.”

Ronaldo will be 43 by the time the next major tournament comes around – the 2028 European Championships hosted in the UK & Ireland. Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he will step down from his role as Portugal’s manager after their World Cup exit to Spain. Sky Sports News reported on June 16 that Martinez was set to step down from his role at the end of the tournament and confirmed this after the match.

“I came to Portugal to win the World Cup, and I ​think that without winning it, there’s no point in continuing,” Martinez said. “The board and the president ⁠now have the opportunity to choose the new manager… my contract ends today. ​There isn’t much more to say. Yes, it’s my last game for the national team. I’m very proud… I’ve felt welcomed as just ​another Portuguese person, in a very warm way. It’s been a pleasure, a ​source of pride, and a responsibility.”

Martinez also paid tribute to Ronaldo – but could not give any more details about what his captain is thinking. “A word of thanks, because he was an exemplary captain,” Martinez said. “Not ⁠just in terms of goals – the statistics speak for ​themselves – but also in terms of assists. “It’s his day-to-day ​commitment, the way he lives and breathes football. He’s an ​example and something we must celebrate.

“We will always be grateful for what he tried to do at this World Cup, because the dream was to win ​the World Cup and he tried with an incredible example of leadership as a captain,” Martinez said. “This is not the moment to look beyond what we’re talking about: a soccer icon. There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos.” (Photo: England manager Tuchel embraced Bellingham).

Mexico 2-3 England: Jude Bellingham’s World Cup Heroics Silence Remaining Doubters of Superstar’s Commitment to Thomas Tuchel’s Cause

By Callum Bishop, Football Journalist

Jude Bellingham put in one of the greatest individual performances in England’s World Cup history during the 3-2 win over Mexico; Bellingham took his tally to four goals this tournament, having faced question marks over his starting spot in the build-up. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe what Jude Bellingham produced in the cauldron that was the Azteca.

The headlines will be the two goals within 98 seconds of each other that put England well on their way to the World Cup quarter-finals, and understandably so. He became the first player since Diego Maradona to do so during a World Cup game in that stadium in 40 years. What those who stayed up until the early hours witnessed was a display of true heart, courage, and determination from Thomas Tuchel’s side. A performance to make any fan feel patriotic. Away from the goals, no one symbolised that more than Bellingham.

This is the same man who was facing a debate over whether or not he should start ahead of the opener against Croatia. He had been dropped from Tuchel’s squad less than a year ago. The German also professed his love for Morgan Rogers. His line-ups in the pre-tournament friendlies indicated that he was going to stick by the Aston Villa man. Yet, one of the defining images from the game at the Azteca saw Tuchel and Bellingham embrace at the full-time whistle. Any hint of animosity had vanished. How could anyone be critical of the 23-year-old?

He left everything on the pitch. Forget the goals, as important as they were. That didn’t sum up Bellingham’s night. It was about every blade of grass he ran through. It was about the tackles he won. The take-ons, when surrounded by four players, he completed. The goal-line clearance to stop Mexico from equalising on the stroke of half-time. His desire to keep running when his gas tank was depleted. Just the look in his eyes. There was an incredible moment in the dying embers of second-half stoppage time where England won a throw deep in the Mexican half. Bellingham was seen grabbing the aforementioned Rogers’ face and telling him to keep going.

This is even though Rogers had been on the pitch roughly 10 minutes, while Bellingham had nearly played 100. Yet, he was urging his fresher teammates to join him in the trenches. Pre-tournament, it seemed as though Tuchel never doubted Bellingham’s quality. The questions were more aimed at his mentality. He’s settled at Real Madrid. He’s undoubtedly a superstar. He’s surrounded by other superstars who have been criticised for not giving everything for their team. Perhaps it had rubbed off on Bellingham slightly? Maybe that was Tuchel’s concern. (Photo: Jude and Anthony Gordon after beating Mexico).

This performance alone should put a stop to that. Jude Bellingham’s attitude when he puts on an England shirt can never, ever be questioned again. Not after that. Not after a superhuman effort in suboptimal conditions. Bellingham did it all. But, to a certain extent, we shouldn’t be surprised by that. That’s been the case all tournament. His numbers this summer rank among the best offensively, creatively and defensively. To put it simply, Bellingham has ranked as one of England’s best attackers, midfielders and defenders. You could put him in goal, and there would be nothing to worry about.

Is that a bit of an overkill? Of course it is. But when words fail to sum up what this man has done, exaggerations are a necessity. Speaking in the mixed zone post-match, Bellingham claimed that any one of his teammates could’ve done what he did. “I know what I can offer to the team, but make no mistake about it, we’ve got 26 lads there who could’ve done exactly what I did tonight,” he said. “I’m convinced of it. I hope that a win like this can give them that same conviction.”

The simple fact is, he’s wrong. The stats show that no one can do all that he is doing at both ends of the pitch to such a high standard. Nevertheless, his words are not those of someone who has let superstardom go to their head. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Those are the words of a boy from Birmingham, proud to represent his country, to stand alongside his compatriots and to give everything he has and then some for that shirt. As if he couldn’t do anything to make fans love him even more, he said the one thing everyone was thinking.

“Text your bosses and tell them you’re not going into work tomorrow.” In one sentence, you’ve seen a man not only silence any doubters he may still have had lingering, but has turned them into his biggest supporters. He does what he does on the pitch and says what he says after, because one thing is clear. He is committed to England. That much can never be questioned again.

Courtesy: Sky Sports