Atlas falls 3-2 against Toluca in a key match for the Play In

FIFA lifted striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension after the White House contacted the organization’s president, Gianni Infantino, to ask for a review of the red card he received in the round of 16.

The controversial incident

Balogun, the United States’ leading scorer with three goals in the tournament, was sent off Wednesday for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic during a 2-0 victory. The automatic one-match suspension ruled him out of the quarterfinal match against Belgium, scheduled for Monday.

FIFA announced on Sunday that the sanction was suspended for a one-year trial period. If Balogun commits another similar violation within that period, the suspension will take effect.

Conflicting reactions

President Donald Trump celebrated the measure on social media: “Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice!”

In contrast, the Royal Belgian Football Federation expressed its “astonishment” and coach Rudi García ironically: “I didn’t know that in the FIFA offices July 5 was April 1 in Europe.” García added that his federation defends “the integrity and ethics of football” and that it is investigating all legal options.

The American team learned the news during the bus ride to training, when posts began circulating on social media. Christian Pulisic gave his opinion on the foul: “It was unintentional. There were much worse ones in this tournament.”

Background

FIFA had already applied similar suspensions in the past. In November, he postponed two games of a three-match suspension against Cristiano Ronaldo. It also benefited Nicolás Otamendi and Moisés Caicedo in April. An emblematic case was that of Garrincha in 1962, who after being expelled in the semifinals was able to play in the final due to political pressure.

Balogun, 25 years old and Monaco striker, has 12 goals in 30 international matches. He was born in Brooklyn and represents the United States after having played in the youth ranks of England. His presence will be key as the host seeks to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

Electric storm forces delay of the start of Mexico-England

The round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and England, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Central Time, could not start at the scheduled time. A thunderstorm over the capital forced the organizers to postpone the opening whistle by one hour, until 7:00 p.m.

Adverse conditions in the stadium. According to official sources, the storm generated lightning and intense rain in the sports venue area. Safety protocols establish that a match cannot be played while there is electrical activity nearby, to protect players, coaching staff and fans.

Fans waiting. The fans who were already in the stands had to take shelter in the entrances and corridors of the stadium. The property’s screens showed messages informing about the delay. So far, no major incidents have been reported.

Impact on the development of the match. The one-hour delay could affect the logistics of the match, including the warm-up times of the players. The coaching staffs of both teams adjusted their pre-game plans.

It is expected that, once the weather conditions improve, the match will be played without further setbacks. The winner of this duel will advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup is advancing and the fight for the title is closer than ever. Several teams keep their aspirations alive thanks to the performance of their main offensive figures.

2026 World Cup Scorers

After the group stage and in the middle of the direct elimination rounds, the tournament’s top scorers have increased their numbers. The race for the Golden Boot is intense.

• Lionel Messi: 7 goals
• Kylian Mbappé: 7 goals
• Erling Haaland: 5 goals
• Harry Kane: 5 goals
• Ismaila Sarr: 4 goals
• Mikel Oyarzabal: 4 goals
• Ousmane Dembélé: 4 goals
• Vinicius Jr.: 4 goals

Messi and Mbappé, two leaders in world football, share the leadership. Both are not only looking for the scoring title, but also to strengthen their legacy in the history of the World Cups. His impact will be key for his teams to advance towards the final.