It will be great to get back to Seattle, a great soccer city that brought an incredible atmosphere to the stadium for the USA's win over Australia during the 2026 World Cup group stage. This game is not going to be easy, as Belgium will present us with the biggest challenge of the tournament so far. That's how it goes: The deeper your tournament run, the tougher the competition, regardless of opponent. We got a boost on Sunday morning when striker Folarin Balogun had his red card suspended. The USMNT likely had backup plans in place, but the unexpected FIFA reversal should allow coach Maurico Pochettino to keep his preferred starting lineup for a huge matchup. And Balogun should stay in the starting XI and retain his place during what has been a breakout tournament for him on a global stage. With three goals, he's our top scorer at this point in the World Cup. Let's get to your questions ahead of this massive game. Is every game the rest of the tournament the biggest in mens soccer history? jacobimoore.92 Simply put, yes. At every stage, with every success, the stakes and opportunity are magnified. The dream continues to build and become that much more real for everyone involved fans, coaches and especially the players. Everyone in the country takes notice with every extra moment. In 2010, after our moment at the World Cup, it was different. After the 2010 World Cup, we were all over the place in Los Angeles, and there was a huge spotlight. Now, though, there are many more means of consuming things today social media, television, streaming that amplify it all. Do you think Pulisic will finally get his "World Cup moment" against Belgium? benjinator800 He already had one in the last tournament in 2022 with his game-winner against Iran, but there are going to be many more opportunities as this run continues. As a former player, what has it been like following this US run? blake.newton48 It's been emotional. This group is fun, and it has given everyone hope. Being in the stadiums for these games to take in everything to do with the atmosphere, the post-game celebrations it has been amazing. Who should raise the 12th man flag aka the US flag in Seattle? sullyvol The first names that come to mind with Seattle connections that would get the crowd going: Ken Griffey Jr. or Marshawn Lynch. Another great option: Clint Dempsey because he played in that stadium for the Sounders. Mo Salah is the best Mo in the game. Reece 617707 Youre not wrong. A shoutout to Mo Johnston, my first coach as a professional with Toronto FC.

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his England vs. Mexico best bets for their knockout stage match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday at

It had become one of the game's great certainties. If you are sent off at the World Cup, you will miss the next game.No ifs, no buts, no appeals. The decision to effectively overturn the red card shown to United States' star forward Florian Balogun's leaves many unanswered questions. Balogun, sent off in the last-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, will now be available to play in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday. He's the US's top scorer at the tournament with three goals.There have been 189 red cards in the history of the World Cup, and only two players have not served a suspension.The other came in 1962, when Brazil's Garrincha was sent off against Chile in the semi-final, but played in the victory over Czechoslovakia in the final.Back then, however, there was no automatic ban. It was decided by committee with evidence given by the officials.The Fifa disciplinary committee's decision in 1962 was shrouded in allegations of political interference. It may well be the case again.Given the well-established close relationship between the White House and Fifa, questions will be asked because of what is a highly unusual decision in favour of the co-hosts.Multiple reports say that US President Donald Trump called Fifa president Gianni Infantino earlier this week to ask for the red card to be reviewed. The BBC has not yet confirmed these reports.Does it set a footballing precedent, too? Why has Balogun been given a reprieve, but the other 11 players sent off at this World Cup have all served a suspension?Will it lead to more appeals in football in a bid to cut suspensions even when red cards were justified under the rules?When it says "misses next match" on the television coverage following the World Cup's next red card, should we not be so sure it happens?Here, we break down the decision, what we know and the possible repercussions.Thousands welcome home Cape Verde footballers after stunning World Cup runFrance survive Paraguay's 'disgraceful' and 'embarrassing' dark artsRanking 10 stars who could be at their last World CupFifa offered no reason or explanationThere is one overriding question many people are now asking. How?Fifa's disciplinary code states that Balogun should receive a ban of "at least two matches for serious foul play".Indeed, the World Cup rules do not allow teams to appeal against a red card.Fifa's statement offered no reason or explanation for suspending Balogun's ban. It just cited "article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code".Article 27 allows Fifa "to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure".It is a wide-ranging rule that allows Fifa to effectively make whatever decision it wants without having to meet any other criteria.Article 27 has never before been used at a World Cup. BBC Sport has asked why this happened.But we were not provided with any reasoning. We were simply directed to Cristiano Ronaldo's suspended ban before this tournament. Under Fifa's disciplinary code, Ronaldo should have received a three-match ban for elbowing Dara O'Shea during Portugal's 2-0 qualifying defeat by the Republic of Ireland in November.He served one match in the final qualifier against Armenia - but the remaining two games of the ban were suspended.Ronaldo's red card, though, was received in qualifying. It was not a red card at a World Cup.There have been many cases of players being shown some leniency before a tournament, not just Ronaldo.See France's Laurent Koscielny in 2014, or Ecuador's Moises Caicedo and Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi before this World Cup.At least with Ronaldo, we were given some justification, with Fifa saying it had taking into account that "he had no red cards in his other 225 international appearances".With Balogun, we did not even get that.It has left a vacuum of information which can only lead to speculation.Why was this a special case? What factors were taken into account? Who made the decision?BBC Sport has been told there are no suggestions that the referee asked for the suspension to be removed, or that video assistant referee protocol was not respected.In England, the Football Association would publish the full written reasons. The United States have the right to ask Fifa to publish them, Belgium do not. BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards, a former England defender, said it was a farce."To have it suspended for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament," he said."It is to keep the big stars in the competition. How can that happen? Fifa needs to do better. "It has left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths."Belgium are, of course, furious. They issued a statement on Sunday saying they were "astonished" that Balogun had been cleared to play.The Belgian FA referenced several regulations, workshop presentations and pre-tournament co-ordination meetings. They are adamant that the decision contradicts the tournament regulations which state that a player "will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match".In effect, they say Fifa used its disciplinary code to override the competition regulations.Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia, speaking at a news conference, went further. He said: "I didn't know that [at] the Fifa World Cup 5 July is now 1 April, and that is April Fool's."We are not defending the national team or the federation, we're defending football."What must the other players sent off at this tournament be thinking?Take Qatar's Assim Madibo, involved in an unfortunate incident which led to a broken leg for Canada's midfielder Ismael Kone.There is a clear case here that Madibo did not even make a challenge, that the injury happened by chance and not because of the nature of the tackle.Yet Fifa handed Madibo a five-game ban - and extra three on top of the standard punishment for serious foul play.Does the Balogun decision create precedent?Balogun was sent off following a video assistant referee review [Getty Images]Was Balogun's red card harsh? Absolutely.The striker was challenging Tarik Muharemovic, and accidentally brought his foot down on the ankle of the Bosnian. Harsh does not mean it was an incorrect decision, or that it was so egregious that Fifa simply had to step in.Should Fifa now rescind any suspension after a red card from an accidental act? Coaches will be making the argument - precedent has been set, now let's have consistency.Intent was taken out of the laws many years ago, and only the result of a challenge is meant to be considered. Take Xavi Simons' red card against Liverpool last December. The Tottenham forward did not mean to stand on the back of Virgil van Dijk's leg, but he did and it was judged to endanger the safety of the opponent. Tottenham's then-head coach Thomas Frank bemoaned the automatic three-match ban, but the club decided against appealing, believing they had no chance of success.The Balogun decision adds to some concerns within the domestic leagues from decisions at this World Cup.It is felt that the lack of yellow cards, some of the implementation of VAR, as well the interpretation of new laws, is impossible to replicate at league level.And fans will expect it to be the same.By repealing Balogun's ban, it can only make life more difficult for them.Why can't the Football Association show clemency just like Fifa did? Surely excessive bans like that suffered by Simons should be looked at?Was Trump involved in the decision?One of the cornerstones of Fifa's World Cup disciplinary process is that you cannot appeal.Why has Fifa created a special case for the host nation's star player?The red card and suspension caused uproar in the United States.There have been claims in the US that the striker was given a double punishment by having to miss one match and almost a third of another - the last 27 minutes versus Bosnia and the tie with Belgium. This was grossly unfair, it was said by media commentators in the US.There was pressure from the media and from the US administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US "got screwed with that red card" and that "there needs to be an appeal process" on Friday.However, there was no expectation that Fifa would suddenly produce a special dispensation which would allow the former Arsenal striker to play.Effectively, Balogun received a sin-bin against Bosnia and is free to play again.Reuters, AFP and the New York Times has reported Trump's supposed call to Infantino on Wednesday - the day after the Bosnia game - and that he asked the Fifa president to review Balogun's suspension.BBC Sport has not confirmed these reports. On Sunday evening, Trump thanked Fifa for "reversing a great injustice" in a post on Truth Social.If true, it has parallels with the Garrincha situation, with presidential intervention involved to make sure the Brazil winger was not suspended.Fifa's ethics committee had already been asked to investigate Infantino, claiming he broke the governing body's rules on political neutrality in relation to awarding Trump's Fifa Peace Prize.The world governing body's statutes forbid political interference in football.If it turns out the US administration did have a role to play, there will be further questions to answer.But before that, all eyes will be on Balogun and the US against Belgium on Monday.World Cup 2026 knockout pathHow to watch the World Cup on the BBC and ITVEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Jude Bellingham finally had his signature moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring two goals in two minutes against Mexico in their round of 16 match at Mexico City Stadium on Sunday. Bellingham's first goal came in the 36th minute on a cross from Bukayo Saka that he ran onto well and put his head through. Two minutes later, in the 38th minute, Bellingham scored again on a give-and-go with superstar striker Harry Kane. Bellingham's brace is the fastest by an English player ever at the World Cup at 98 seconds. He now has four goals for England at this tournament, one behind Kane for the team lead, and five at the World Cup all-time. Mexico answered back in the 42nd minute with a goal from Julin Quiones, and it nearly found the equalizer before the halftime break before Bellingham came through for England again, this time on the defensive end with a goal-saving clearance against Mexico center back Csar Montes.

Miami reliever Lake Bachar gave up five runs, including a grand slam, in the eighth inning

The Miami Marlins almost blew it completely on Sunday afternoon in West Sacramento.Considering how the game started, it would have been a truly stunning collapse.Eury Prez threw seven perfect innings on Sunday to help power the Marlins to a 9-8 win over the Athletics. But when he was pulled ahead of the eighth inning, the Marlins were up by eight runs and seemingly on their way to a blowout win.Marlins reliever Lake Bachar came in to replace Prez to start the eighth inning. The perfect game that Prez had started he got all 21 hitters he faced out and tossed eight strikeouts in 92 pitches was still intact even as fans at the ballpark were livid.Marlins pulled Eury Perez after seven perfect innings with 92 pitchesFans loudly chanted "SHAME!" as the bullpen promptly walked the first batter to end the perfect game pic.twitter.com/htXAIU0ac4 Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 5, 2026But immediately, Bachar walked the first batter he faced. The second batter, Josh Kuroda-Grauer, then hit a shallow single to right for the first hit. Just like that, it was all over.By the end of the inning, a grand slam from the As had made it an 8-5 game.Jonah Heim GRAND SLAM!The @Athletics are right back in this game in the 8th pic.twitter.com/P5gihomBKq MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2026The Athletics scored three more in the bottom of the ninth, too, thanks in part to a two-RBI single from Jonah Heim, who was fresh off his grand slam the inning prior. But closer Pete Fairbanks finally closed the game out and gave the Marlins, who added an extra run in the top of the inning, the one-run win.Now the Marlins, considering how many pitches he had thrown, likely never would have left Prez in the contest despite the perfect game he was in the middle of. The 23-year-old has never thrown a complete game in his major league career, and the 92 pitches he threw on Sunday were the most hes done since returning late last month from a leg injury. Perez went down in late May after his right hamstring spasms as he was stretching in the middle of a start.But its fair to wonder if he could have pulled it off, given the opportunity. That, however, isnt something Marlins manager Clayton McCollugh was willing to risk.He had it really going today, and I totally get it, McCollugh said, via Fish On Firsts Jeremiah Geiger. There was a part of my heartstrings pulling at his opportunity to keep on going, but I think i have to think about Eury, one, and our organization, our team, and whats best moving forward to give us a chance to continue to win games. We made more of a calculated decision of where he was with the pitch count to take him out.If Prez would have been successful, it would have been the 25th perfect game in MLB history. New York Yankees starter Domingo Germn there the most recent one, also against the Athletics, back in 2023. The Marlins have never had a perfect game.If the Marlins had blown the game, it would have been nothing short of a disaster. But they held on and closed out the three-game sweep to push them to 49-42 on the year. Not only is the win in the books, but Prez looks back to form after his injury.

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Jude Bellingham finally had his signature moment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring two goals in two minutes against Mexico in their round of 16 match at Mexico City Stadium on Sunday. Bellingham's first goal came in the 36th minute on a cross from Bukayo Saka that he ran onto well and put his head through. Two minutes later, in the 38th minute, Bellingham scored again on a give-and-go with superstar striker Harry Kane. Bellingham's brace is the fastest by an English player ever at the World Cup at 98 seconds. He now has four goals for England at this tournament, one behind Kane for the team lead, and five at the World Cup all-time. Mexico answered back in the 42nd minute with a goal from Julin Quiones, and it nearly found the equalizer before the halftime break before Bellingham came through for England again, this time on the defensive end with a goal-saving clearance against Mexico center back Csar Montes. England leads Mexico 2-1 at halftime.

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Gilberto Mora earned his second consecutive start in the knockout rounds when he was selected to the Starting XI against England in the World Cup round of 16.The 17-year-old Mora previously started against Ecuador in the Round of 32 and in the final group game against Czechia when he made history as Mexicos youngest World Cup starter In the first game of the tournament against South Africa he came off the bench and at that time was Mexicos youngest player to enter a World Cup match.More: Meet Gilberto Mora the 17 year old Mexico phenomGilberto Mora starts against EnglandGilberto Mora got his third consecutive start at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when he was named to the starting XI against England.Earlier in this World Cup, he became the youngest Mexican ever to play in a World Cup game at 17 years and 240 days old, as a second-half substitute against South Africa. The previous record was set by Manuel "Chaquetas" Rosas in 1930, when he was 18.More: Column: Seeing World Cup in Texas in person is experience of a lifetimeGilberto Mora subs out in 60th minuteGilberto Mora subbed out in the 60th minute for rik Lira. At that time Mexico trailed 3-1. He didnt record a goal or assist as his chances to impact the match were limited.Gilberto Mora Mexican soccer playerThe 17-year-old Mora came up through Tijuana's system as an attacking midfielder and joined their senior club in 2024. He has made 50 appearances and scored eight goals for the Xolos.He began playing for Mexican age-group national teams in 2022 with the U15s. He made his senior club debut in a friendly in January 2025, making him, at 16, the youngest player in national team history. His first meaningful matches came in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.He is the son of former professional player Gilberto Mora, who is now the U17 and academy coach for Tijuana.Gilberto Mora numberGilberto Mora wears the No. 19 for the Mexican national team. He wears the No. 10 for his club team, Tijuana.Where is Gilberto Mora from?Mora was born in Tuxtla Gutirrez, a city in Chiapas, basically on the opposite side of the country from Tijuana.Gilberto Mora ageMora was born on Oct. 14, 2008, making him 17 years, 259 days for the Ecuador game.This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Is 17-year-old Gilberto Mora starting for Mexico against England?