Will Cain: President Trump pulled a Trump card on a red card
Will Cain enthusiastically discusses FIFA’s decision to overturn American soccer star Folarin Balogun’s red card, allowing him to play. This decision, confirmed after rejecting Belgium’s appeal, provokes the indignation of the Royal Belgian Football Federation. Cain frames the match as the United States against “the world,” highlighting the controversy.
NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Cristiano Ronaldo’s time representing Portugal at the FIFA World Cup may have come to an end in Dallas on Monday afternoon, as Spain advanced to the quarterfinals, 1-0, at his expense.
Mikel Merino came off the Spain bench and electrified the World Cup crowd in second-half stoppage time when he finally broke a 0-0 tie for the decisive goal past Portuguese goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Ronaldo, who never knocked on Spain’s door in this match (no team has as they have yet to concede a goal in this tournament) stared at the crowd after some desperate attempts were not good enough for Portugal as the final whistle blew.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Arlington, United States. (Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi)
Ronaldo played in his fifth World Cup and, although there was a heated debate about whether he should start in this team, he leaves perhaps the last tournament of his illustrious career with three more goals on this stage to his name.
While Ronaldo and his Portuguese teammates think about what could have been, Spain will await the winner of the United States team and Belgium, who will play their round of 16 match in Seattle on Monday night.
WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE
The big story from the Pacific Northwest is Folarin Balogun, the star USMNT forward who will be available to play after his red card was changed to a suspension, a disciplinary measure similar to the one FIFA gave to Ronaldo so he could participate in this World Cup.
It has been the talk of the tournament, when President Donald Trump said he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the controversial red card given in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the end, FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, much to the chagrin of multiple football federations, including the Belgian group they face tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal watches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Arlington, United States. (Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi)
The United States still took charge of Bosnia and Herzegovina despite Balogun’s red card during the match, which left them with one less man on the field compared to their opponent. Malik Tillman’s free kick goal was the nail in the coffin in the second half, as the USMNT advanced with a 2-0 victory and looked ahead to its meeting with Belgium.
THE NEW EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING THE FOX ONE WORLD CUP
Belgium almost didn’t make it past the round of 32, but it almost didn’t count for the World Cup. Senegal was leading 2-0 in the 80th minute of the match when Belgium finally came to life thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans in the 85th and 89th minutes, respectively.
It forced overtime and Senegal eventually conceded a penalty kick with just ticks left on the clock before a penalty shootout had determined who advanced in the tournament. Tielemans did not waste the opportunity and closed the door on Senegal’s hopes in a crushing way.
Mikel Merino of Spain celebrates with teammates Pedro Porro and Fabián Ruiz after scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain at Dallas Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Hannah Peters-FIFA)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
As Team USA and Belgium prepare for their showdown, Spain will stand up and perhaps pull out a notebook as it watches who it will play in the quarterfinals later this week.
