The article provides updates on the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches held in North America. It reports that the host country, the USA, and Portugal, led by player Cristiano Ronaldo, have been eliminated from the tournament.
Key Facts
The article covers the 26th day of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The World Cup is being held in North America.
The USA is one of the host countries for this tournament.
The USA national team has been eliminated from the competition.
Portugal, a team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, has also been knocked out.
The article includes match highlights, reactions, and previews of upcoming games.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a notable player mentioned in connection to Portugal’s performance.
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About 9.1 million people in the UK watched England's exciting win over Mexico in the World Cup late at night. This game was the biggest TV audience ever in the UK for a live broadcast between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m., and England will next play Norway in the quarter-finals.
Key Facts
The match between England and Mexico peaked at 9.1 million viewers on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer.
The game started at 2:00 a.m. UK time but still attracted an average of 7.8 million viewers.
This was the largest live UK TV audience for the 2:00-4:00 a.m. time slot.
The BBC Sport website and app had a record 15 million unique visitors that day.
England’s Jude Bellingham scored two goals in a fast-paced game at Mexico's Azteca Stadium.
England will face Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday at 10:00 p.m., broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live.
England will be missing Jarell Quansah (suspended) and Jordan Henderson (injured) but expects Reece James to play.
Previous England matches in the tournament had very high peak audiences, including 16.3 million for their win over DR Congo.
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The Wimbledon 2026 quarter-finals feature top tennis players including Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Novak Djokovic. Matches highlight players struggling with form, age, and surface challenges as they compete for the grand slam title.
Key Facts
Coco Gauff reached her first Wimbledon quarter-final in 2026; grass courts are considered less suited to her playing style.
Jess Pegula, a strong all-around player, is seeking her first major title as her career approaches a critical point.
Jannik Sinner has previously won Wimbledon but has struggled with injuries this year.
Jan-Lennard Struff has advanced impressively, beating several top players to reach the quarter-finals.
Naomi Osaka faces Karolina Muchova, who plays well on grass with a mix of skill and power.
Alexander Zverev leads his match against Jiri Lehecka, which continued after a pause the previous evening.
Novak Djokovic is pursuing his 25th grand slam title and plays Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is showing signs of strong development.
Matches are held on No 1 Court and Centre Court, with key matches starting around 1 to 1:30 pm BST.
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The U.S. men's soccer team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the 2026 World Cup, ending their best run since 2002. The defeat showed that while American soccer has made progress, it still needs improvements to compete with top countries.
Key Facts
The U.S. team reached the knockout stages but lost decisively to Belgium.
The loss highlighted defensive mistakes and tactical problems.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the team’s effort but said improvements are needed.
U.S. soccer often changes coaches every World Cup cycle, which can slow progress.
Experts suggest keeping a stable, high-quality coach is very important.
More American players need to join and succeed in top European clubs to improve skills.
Producing more elite goal scorers is a goal for the future national team success.
Changes now might take years or even a decade to fully improve U.S. soccer performance in World Cups.
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Folarin Balogun played for the United States in their World Cup round of 16 loss to Belgium, after his suspension was lifted following intervention by President Donald Trump. Balogun did not score but helped set up a goal; the U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium.
Key Facts
Balogun was originally suspended for one game due to a red card shown in the previous match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
President Donald Trump contacted FIFA to intervene on Balogun’s behalf.
FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension and fined him $40,000, payable by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
The decision by FIFA caused controversy and criticism from European soccer leaders and Belgium’s soccer federation.
Balogun assisted on a goal scored by Malik Tillman against Belgium.
The United States lost the match to Belgium with a score of 4-1.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino attended the match.
Belgium fans showed frustration by chanting "FIFA Mafia" before the game.
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Shapoor Zadran, a former fast bowler for the Afghanistan cricket team, has died at age 38. He was known for helping Afghanistan win their first Cricket World Cup match and played internationally from 2009 to 2020.
Key Facts
Shapoor Zadran was 38 years old when he passed away.
He was treated for a rare immune condition in New Delhi before his death.
Zadran played 44 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 Twenty20 matches for Afghanistan.
He took a total of 80 wickets in international games.
He scored the winning runs when Afghanistan beat Scotland in their first World Cup victory in 2015.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board honored him as a key figure in developing cricket in Afghanistan.
Former Indian cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri also expressed condolences and praised Zadran’s impact on the sport.
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England’s players Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored 10 of the team’s 11 goals at the 2026 World Cup so far. Their strong performances helped England win 3-2 against Mexico and advance to the quarter-finals.
Key Facts
Kane and Bellingham scored 10 out of England’s 11 goals in the tournament.
Marcus Rashford scored the only other England goal, as a substitute against Croatia.
Kane has scored 6 goals and Bellingham has scored 4 goals in the World Cup.
Kane successfully converted a penalty in the Mexico match, which was the winning goal.
Together, Kane and Bellingham have created over half of England’s attacking chances.
England’s heavy reliance on two players for goals mirrors past tournaments, like 1990 and 1996.
Unlike some teams relying on just one star player, England’s attack depends on the partnership between Kane and Bellingham.
England will face Norway, led by Erling Haaland, in the quarter-finals in Miami.
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Egypt football coach Hossam Hassan spoke before a match against Argentina. He said the suffering of Palestinians is a shame for the world and asked athletes and the media to help more.
Key Facts
Hossam Hassan is the coach of the Egypt national football team.
He gave a speech at a press conference before Egypt’s last 16 match with Argentina.
Hassan described the suffering of Palestinians as a global shame.
He urged athletes to take action to support Palestine.
He also called on the media to increase awareness and help.
The event was related to an important football tournament stage.
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The USA men's soccer team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, ending their tournament earlier than expected. Despite having many strong players and a top coach, the team did not reach its best World Cup performance, and coach Mauricio Pochettino said they will learn from the loss.
Key Facts
The USA team lost to Belgium with a score of 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16.
The team had many players active in top European soccer leagues.
Mauricio Pochettino is the coach of the USA team and said the team was not competitive in the match.
Star player Tyler Adams admitted the team did not perform as well as they wanted.
US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review a red card suspension for main goalscorer Folarin Balogun, which was overturned.
Some experts believe the controversy around Balogun’s suspension affected the team’s focus.
Pundits mentioned that individual mistakes by US players contributed to the loss.
The USA team still showed progress but is seen as behind the world’s strongest teams.
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Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup, eliminating the US team from the tournament. The match drew attention because US striker Florian Balogun had received a red card but was allowed to play after FIFA lifted his suspension following an appeal involving President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Belgium won the World Cup match against the United States with a score of 4-1.
The US team was eliminated from the World Cup after this loss.
Florian Balogun, a US striker, was initially given a red card and suspended.
FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension after an appeal linked to President Donald Trump.
The red card situation caused controversy during the match.
The Belgium team is nicknamed the "Red Devils."
The match took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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BTS performed their first UK show in seven years at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, coinciding with England’s 3-2 World Cup win over Mexico. The band joked that their presence brought luck to the teams and celebrated their comeback with a sold-out concert, drawing the largest crowd ever at the venue.
Key Facts
BTS played their first UK concert since 2019 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
England won their World Cup match against Mexico 3-2 around the time of the concert.
BTS joked that their shows bring luck to the winning teams.
The band last played in the UK in 2019 and had to pause touring due to Covid and South Korean military service.
65,000 fans attended the London show, the biggest audience ever at that stadium.
Their comeback album, Arirang, celebrates Korean roots and has topped charts in 26 countries.
The stage design was inspired by traditional Korean culture and historic architecture.
BTS’s tour includes 88 dates across 23 countries and is expected to rival major global tours in revenue.
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Kelsey Pfendler, a 32-year-old American woman, became the first US woman to row solo from California to Hawaii. She completed the 2,400-mile trip in just under 44 days, setting a new record for being the fastest, youngest, and first American woman to finish the journey.
Key Facts
Pfendler started her solo rowing trip on May 21 from Monterey, California.
She arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, on the night of July 3.
Her 44-day time beat the previous female record of 86 days and the male record of 52 days.
Her journey covered more than 2,400 miles (3,900 km) across the Pacific Ocean.
She shared her experiences and challenges, such as blistered hands and bad weather, on social media.
The US Coast Guard communicated with her during the trip and celebrated her birthday.
Pfendler has worked as a professional raft guide on the Grand Canyon’s Colorado River for eight years.
She experienced both fear and awe at sea while navigating natural forces like currents and winds.
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The U.S. men's national soccer team lost to Belgium 4-1 and was eliminated from the World Cup. President Donald Trump claimed he made phone calls to FIFA's president to overturn a red card against a U.S. player, which led to controversy over fairness and interference.
Key Facts
The U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium in the World Cup, ending their run in the tournament.
President Trump said he intervened by calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino three times to overturn a red card given to U.S. player Folarin Balogun.
The red card was initially given to Balogun but then rescinded after the intervention.
FIFA’s president explained the decision by citing rules and independent bodies, but critics doubted the fairness.
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized Infantino, saying red cards should not be changed due to political pressure.
UEFA, the European soccer governing body, expressed strong disapproval of the decision, saying it harms the game's integrity.
The controversy sparked widespread discussion about fairness and outside influence in sports decisions.
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The Belgium football team imitated President Donald Trump's well-known dance moves after scoring in their World Cup match against the USA. Many athletes in different sports have copied these moves, which include swaying hips and fist pumping, as a way to celebrate or join a popular trend.
Key Facts
Belgium players performed President Trump's dance after their fourth goal against the USA in the World Cup last-16 game.
There was controversy before the match when President Trump helped overturn a suspension for the US player Folarin Balogun.
Trump's dance includes hip swaying, fist pumping, and sometimes mimicking a golf swing.
Several American athletes have done the dance after Trump's election victory, including football players like Nick Bosa and Christian Pulisic.
The dance has spread globally to sports like golf and English football, with players copying the moves for fun or other reasons.
UFC fighter Jon Jones performed the dance after retaining his heavyweight title; he thanked President Trump for attending the event.
The NFL said it does not consider the dance a political statement and has no plans to restrict it.
Some athletes said the dance is just a fun celebration without political meaning.
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Argentina will play Egypt in the World Cup Round of 16 in Atlanta, featuring two top football players, Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Messi is a World Cup winner and holds several records, while this is Egypt’s first time in the knockout stage with Salah playing a key role.
Key Facts
Argentina and Egypt face each other in the World Cup Round of 16.
Lionel Messi, 39, is playing in what he has said may be his last World Cup.
Messi has won the World Cup and holds records for most goals and appearances in the tournament.
Mohamed Salah, 34, is in his third World Cup and helping Egypt reach the knockout stage for the first time.
Salah scored a decisive penalty in a shootout win over Australia in the last 32.
Messi has scored seven goals in this World Cup and is playing very well despite his age.
Argentina aims to become one of the few countries to win back-to-back World Cups.
Some critics say Argentina’s team depends too much on Messi’s performance this tournament.
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The World Cup is in a critical phase, with important matches like Argentina vs Egypt and Switzerland vs Colombia deciding which teams move on to the quarterfinals. The tournament also marked Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup, while Kylian Mbappe spoke out against racism, and the USA was eliminated after losing to Belgium.
Key Facts
Argentina faces Egypt in Atlanta to defend their World Cup title.
Switzerland plays Colombia in Vancouver for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Argentina is favored to win against Egypt, with a 69.1% chance of victory in 90 minutes.
Colombia is slightly favored over Switzerland, with a 41.9% chance of winning in regular time.
Cristiano Ronaldo ended his World Cup career after Portugal’s defeat and said he was sad but proud.
The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium, ending their hopes in the tournament.
Kylian Mbappe made public statements against racism during the event.
The USA’s exit was marked by injuries and mistakes, and coach Mauricio Pochettino showed visible frustration.
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Fifa defended its decision to lift the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun after he received a red card, saying this kind of action is common in football leagues. Uefa criticized Fifa, saying overturning the suspension breaks World Cup rules and affects the competition’s fairness. The case involved lobbying from President Donald Trump and high-level officials, but Fifa says its disciplinary committee acted independently.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a USA soccer player, had his red card suspension lifted by Fifa before a World Cup match against Belgium.
Uefa called this decision “crossing a red line” because World Cup rules automatically suspend players after red cards.
Fifa said overturning red cards is common in many football leagues and defended their decision as balanced and normal.
The disciplinary committee did not cancel the red card but suspended its effect for probation.
President Donald Trump and other White House officials lobbied Fifa to review Balogun’s suspension.
Fifa’s executive president, Gianni Infantino, denied involvement in the decision.
The disciplinary committee explained its process is independent from Fifa’s executive branch.
This is the first time such a last-minute red card suspension lift has happened at a World Cup.
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Switzerland and Colombia will play against each other in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The match takes place on July 7 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada, with both teams aiming to reach the quarterfinals for a strong tournament finish.
Key Facts
The game is on Tuesday, July 7, at 1pm local time (20:00 GMT) in Vancouver, Canada.
Switzerland topped Group B and won their Round of 32 match 2-0 against Algeria, their first knockout win since 1938.
Colombia won Group K and beat Ghana 1-0 in the Round of 32, conceding just one goal so far.
Swiss player Johan Manzambi, 20 years old, has scored three goals and made two assists, becoming a key player for Switzerland.
Switzerland’s attacking players Manzambi, Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye, and Ruben Vargas scored eight of the team’s nine goals in the tournament.
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo praised his team’s versatility, technical skills, and ability to adapt to different game situations.
Switzerland aims to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 1954, while Colombia tries to repeat their best 2014 performance reaching the last eight.
Fans can follow pre-match coverage and live text commentary on Al Jazeera Sport starting at 16:45 GMT.
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The USA was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after losing 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16. The USA team said that a controversy about player Folarin Balogun’s red card did not affect their performance. Portugal also left the tournament after a 1-0 loss to Spain.
Key Facts
The USA lost 4-1 to Belgium in Seattle during the World Cup round of 16.
Folarin Balogun, a USA player, received a red card which caused a controversy, but the team denied it influenced their loss.
Belgium’s social media reacted strongly to the red card event.
Portugal was knocked out by Spain with a 1-0 score in Dallas, marking Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup.
The tournament will continue with Argentina vs. Egypt and Switzerland vs. Colombia in the remaining round of 16 matches.
The USA co-hosted the World Cup along with other countries.
The last 16 matches are part of the knockout rounds leading to the final on July 19.
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