Trump Steps In, Balogun Cleared to Play Against Belgium
U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game suspension was overturned, allowing him to take the field Monday when the United States faces Belgium in World Cup action. Balogun, who leads the American squad with three goals, was handed a red card after an awkward step on the ankle of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemović during a 2-0 round of 16 victory on Wednesday. A red card normally triggers an automatic one-game ban, but FIFA announced Sunday the suspension would not stand. The decision drew praise from Trump and sharp criticism from the Belgian national team.
England Stuns Mexico on Home Soil, 3-2
In a thrilling match played in Mexico City, England defeated Mexico 3-2 to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals — handing Mexico its first-ever World Cup defeat at Estadio Azteca. Jude Bellingham was the hero, netting two goals just 98 seconds apart, while Harry Kane converted a penalty even as England played with 10 men. Bellingham’s header in the 36th minute and a follow-up goal in the 38th minute off a Kane pass left a crowd of more than 80,000 stunned. Mexico had been unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at that venue, including three earlier in this tournament. England will now take on Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, with a semifinal berth on the line.
Haaland Powers Norway Past Brazil in Historic Run
Erling Haaland delivered a standout performance in East Rutherford, New Jersey, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 79th minute and adding another before the final whistle to lead Norway past Brazil 2-1. The victory sends Norway into the World Cup quarterfinals for the very first time. With seven goals in the tournament, Haaland is now tied with Lionel Messi for the most goals scored. For Brazil, the loss marks their earliest World Cup exit since 1990, snapping a streak of eight consecutive quarterfinal appearances. Norway will now square off against England for a spot in the semifinals.
Brazil’s Penalty Strategy Backfires in Round of 16
Brazil’s earliest World Cup departure since 1990 came with a painful twist involving a penalty kick decision. Vinícius Júnior held the ball at the spot but passed responsibility to Bruno Guimarães, whose attempt was stopped by Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland in the 14th minute. By the time Neymar successfully converted Brazil’s second penalty deep in stoppage time, it was not enough to overcome Norway’s 2-1 lead. It marked Brazil’s first failed penalty kick in World Cup play — outside of shootouts — since 1986.
US Eyes Historic Back-to-Back Knockout Wins Against Belgium
The United States enters Monday’s World Cup match against Belgium seeking something the program has never achieved: back-to-back knockout round victories. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to field a full lineup, with Folarin Balogun now eligible after his suspension was lifted. The last time these two nations met at a World Cup was in 2014, when Belgium eliminated the U.S. 2-1 in extra time. A win would set up a quarterfinal showdown against either Spain or Portugal. Belgium reached this stage by defeating Senegal 3-2 in extra time. The U.S. snapped a 10-game losing streak against European opponents with their round of 16 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. A sellout crowd is anticipated at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Osaka Tops World No. 1 Sabalenka at Wimbledon
Naomi Osaka pulled off a significant upset at Wimbledon in London, defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 7-6 (2) to reach the quarterfinals of the grass-court Grand Slam for the first time. Sabalenka had won all three of her previous matchups with Osaka this year, including at the same stage of the French Open just last month. This time, however, Sabalenka struggled to handle Osaka’s powerful, flat groundstrokes. It was Osaka’s first win over a world No. 1 since she beat Ash Barty in Beijing back in 2019 — before Osaka took time away from the tour to address her mental health in 2021 and then missed all of 2023 for maternity leave. Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, and Jannik Sinner also advanced.
Gauff’s Buzzer-Beater Sends Her to Wimbledon Quarterfinals
Coco Gauff made it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in dramatic fashion, clinching her match against Belinda Bencic — 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 — with just two minutes to spare before the 11 p.m. curfew at the All England Club. Gauff sealed the win with a service winner out wide on her first match point. After the final point, she tapped her left wrist to acknowledge the perfectly timed finish. Had she not closed it out in that game, the match would have been pushed to Monday. Gauff compared the pressure of the moment to a buzzer-beater in basketball, noting that “playing tennis we’re used to not having a clock. But honestly today I felt the pressure.”
Briscoe Earns First Cup Win of Season at Chicagoland
Chase Briscoe claimed his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the season Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, holding off a hard-charging Christopher Bell in the closing laps of the race on the 1.5-mile oval. Bell, Briscoe’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, could not close the gap in time. The 31-year-old Indiana native celebrated his sixth career Cup victory with a burnout and stood in his car window to wave to the sold-out crowd. It was Bell’s fourth second-place finish of the season. Bell competed with a splint on his arm as he continues recovering from a broken left wrist suffered in a crash at Michigan on June 7.
Gotterup Wins John Deere Classic Thanks to Rival’s Late Stumble
Chris Gotterup captured the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, for his fourth PGA Tour title over the past 12 months, shooting a final-round 62 at TPC Deere Run to erase a five-shot deficit. Gotterup needed some late fortune as well — Ben Kohles, who was tied for the lead, stood in the middle of the 18th fairway and pulled his 8-iron into the water, then missed a short putt to finish with a double bogey. Max Homa ended up in second place, his best finish in more than three years.
Dodgers Catcher Makes MLB Debut Amid Family Crisis in Venezuela
Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend while his sister and stepmother remain missing following devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. The 26-year-old batted ninth and caught for pitcher Emmet Sheehan in a home game against the San Diego Padres. Alfonzo’s family members have been unaccounted for since multiple earthquakes struck his home country on June 24. Several Latin American media outlets reported that the two women’s bodies had been discovered in the rubble of a hotel in La Guaira where they were staying, but the Dodgers said they had not confirmed those reports. Alfonzo spent nearly a decade in the minor leagues before earning his first major league call-up this weekend.
