Gilberto Mora, the Mexican jewel that excites at the World Cup

The controversy that divides world football

FIFA surprised by lifting the automatic suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun hours before the round of 16 match against Belgium. The decision, made after a call from President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, sparked criticism in Belgium and among several soccer figures.

Balogun had been sent off in the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina for a foul considered involuntary by many. The one-match sanction, common in these cases, was annulled by FIFA using article 27 of its disciplinary code, a rare clause.

Reactions found

The Belgian federation declared itself “astonished” and presented an appeal that was dismissed because, according to FIFA, Belgium “is not part of the procedure.” Coach Rudi García described the measure as “unusual.” In contrast, United States coach Mauricio Pochettino celebrated the ruling: “It was completely unfair.”

UEFA called the resolution “incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” England manager Thomas Tuchel warned it could open the door to more appeals. Former player Wayne Rooney said: “Infantino should be ashamed.” Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic supported the decision.

Trump defended his call, saying he only asked to review the play. Infantino assured that the disciplinary committee acted independently. However, FIFA’s statutes prohibit government interference. The case is reminiscent of 1962, when Chile pressured Garrincha to play in the final after an expulsion. Now, Belgium is considering going to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.

The Mexican National Team was left out of the World Cup in North America after losing 2-3 to England at the Mexico City Stadium. The defeat left several El Tri players in tears, who consoled each other at the end of the match.

But amid the sadness, a moment of camaraderie captured attention on social media. Jude Bellingham, author of a double, approached Mexican youth Gilberto Mora in the stadium tunnels. The Englishman hugged him, consoled him and then offered him his England number 10 shirt. Mora responded by exchanging his own shirt.

A gesture that transcends the scoreboard

The Real Madrid midfielder, despite his euphoria over qualifying for the Quarterfinals, found time to recognize the talent of the young Mexican, who had an outstanding performance. The video of the exchange went viral and was applauded by fans of both teams. A gesture that, beyond the result, left an image of respect among the players.

Australia ratifies Popovic despite elimination

The Australian Football Federation confirmed Tony Popovic as technical director, despite the elimination of the Socceroos on penalties against Egypt in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

Popovic, 53, was questioned by the local press for including goalkeeper Mathew Ryan—instead of Patrick Beach—especially for the definition from the eleven steps, after the 1-1 draw. Ryan did not stop any Egyptian shots. In addition, the inclusion of 18-year-old youth player Lucas Herrington, who missed his penalty, was noted.

“Every fan will have their own opinion on what could have been done better, but Popovic and his team are always in the best position to assess the needs,” said Martin Kugeler, chief executive of Football Australia.

Kugeler added: “In hindsight, we all know that things did not go as we expected, but for us, the coach deserves our absolute confidence and is the right person to continue in the position.”

Popovic took over in 2024 and led the team to its sixth consecutive World Cup. Before the tournament, he extended his contract until the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in January.

Renard says goodbye to Tunisia after a brief stay

The situation was different for Hervé Renard, who coached Tunisia for only two games. He was hired in the middle of the World Cup to replace Sabri Lamouchi, dismissed after the 5-1 defeat against Sweden in the Group F debut.

Renard lost 4-0 against Japan and 3-1 against the Netherlands in the last two dates in the zone. At the end of his very brief administration, he issued a farewell message.

“Before leaving, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the federation for giving me the opportunity to participate in the World Cup. It was a great honor to lead the Tunisian team and live this unforgettable experience,” he said.

“I wish the best to the team and I am sure that it will continue to grow, delight its fans and write brilliant pages in its history,” concluded the French coach.