2026 World Cup: England's heroism, Brazil's impotence, Trump's intervention

The English, heroic with ten men, resisted the Mexican waves of Azteca to secure their qualification for the quarter-finals of the World Cup, unlike a Brazil that no longer produces dreams and was brought down by a huge player, the Norwegian Erling Haaland.

The clash of the round of 16 will pit Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal against European champion Spain on Monday in Dallas, before another match, this one with a whiff of scandal, between the United States and Belgium.

Because FIFA suspended on Sunday the red card that would have ruled Folarin Balogun, the tournament's top American scorer, out of the match. This surreal decision was preceded by a phone call from President Donald Trump to his friend Gianni Infantino requesting a review of the sanction.

The English win the Battle of Azteca

Mythical stadium, penalties, expulsion, altitude, suspense until the end... It was at the end of a legendary match such as only the World Cup produces that England, with ten men for about forty minutes, managed to qualify for the quarter-finals, beating Mexico (3-2), at home, at the Azteca.

A brace from Jude Bellingham and a goal from Harry Kane - his sixth in the tournament - allowed England to settle a 40-year-old dispute with this mythical stadium, the scene of their historic defeat against Diego Maradona's Argentina (2-1), and his "hand of God" on June 22, 1986.

The kickoff was delayed by an hour due to the risk of lightning, but the atmosphere on the pitch remained electric throughout the match. Reduced to ten men after Jarell Quansah's dismissal in the 54th minute for a dangerous tackle, Thomas Tuchel's men had to fight hard to maintain their lead against a Mexican side that relentlessly attacked Jordan Pickford's goal, making several crucial saves.

The disappointment is immense for Mexico, the second of the three host countries to be eliminated in the round of 16 after Canada.

Haaland defeats Brazil

Norway eliminated Brazil, and this may not even be a surprise, given how impressive the Norwegians have been for the past month, unlike the Brazilians.

With a brace, Haaland crushed Brazil's dreams of a sixth star (2-1). The striker, who joins Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi at the top of the goalscoring charts, propelled the Vikings to their first-ever quarter-final, where they will face England.

Conversely, Carlo Ancelotti's players returned dejected: Brazil had not been eliminated so early in the competition since 1990.

And it's a cruel end for Neymar, who had hoped for a different outcome in what would be, at 34, his fourth and final World Cup. Coming on in the 67th minute, the Seleção's all-time leading scorer (80 goals) will find no consolation in conceding a penalty in stoppage time (90+10).

Trump, FIFA, the scandal

The 2026 World Cup has its scandal: upset by Balogun's suspension for Monday's round of 16 match against Belgium, Trump called Infantino, and the player was ultimately allowed to play, an interference that has sparked outrage.

Two sources close to the matter confirmed to AFP that the American president, who has long boasted of his friendship with the head of world football, called him on Wednesday to request a review of the striker's suspension, who was sent off the same day against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

And the surreal announcement came on Sunday via a FIFA press release: the disciplinary committee had modified the sanction. The one-match suspension he had automatically received was commuted to "a one-match suspended sentence, with a one-year probationary period."

Balogun will be able to start in Seattle against the Red Devils at 5pm (Tuesday 00:00 GMT).

"Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and righting a great wrong!", the US president reacted on his Truth Social platform.

"The real strength is to win with fair play (and respecting all the rules). That's what Belgium will do tomorrow (Monday)," replied Jacqueline Galant, Minister of Sports of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, on X.

Spain awaits CR7.

Among the four remaining round of 16 matches scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, the Iberian Peninsula "derby" between Portugal and Spain, should La Roja win, could push Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, towards international retirement.

"You have tried to kill me for 23 years," the Portuguese superstar with five Ballon d'Or awards declared on Sunday to a sea of media gathered in the Dallas stadium.

"As I said before, (I will stop) when I decide, not when you decide," the striker with 146 goals in 232 appearances (two records in men's international football) and who is playing in his sixth World Cup reiterated.

Lionel Messi's Argentina and Mohamed Salah's Egypt will face off on Tuesday at noon (16:00 GMT) in Atlanta, before Switzerland and Colombia close out the round of 16 at 13:00 (20:00 GMT) in Vancouver.