Road to FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026

[allezfred]

Why should Belgium get a voice?

Because Belgium are playing the US next. Managing yellow and red cards is part of the game anyone who hadn’t starting watching five minutes ago would know. The US are getting an unfair advantage because the leader of the host nation lobbied FIFA to get a red card overturned. Do they not teach ethics in American schools?

 

[Cachoo]

Trump's interference taints the whole process even as it was a controversial decision. June was a lot of fun but I'm out now. Getting ready for my true love: The NFL.

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

From the non-soccer/football fan, who needs FIFA when there is Wimbledon on now!!

 

[Miezekatze]

Luckily due to timezone this corrupt event goes practically unnoticed here this time

 

[Karen-W]

LOL. The cope in this thread is going so hard right now.

If Trump believed that his call to Infantino tipped the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee into the decision to suspend Balogun's red card, does anyone believe Trump wouldn't be bragging about it? The man loves to toot his own horn.

Yet, despite Trump directly and Infantino through FIFA making it clear that Trump's call had no influence on the decision or process, some of you are so hardened in your Trump hatred that you're bound and determined to believe there is some sort of corruption afoot.

If I cared about soccer beyond this summer's World Cup, I'd run back through past WC/soccer discussion threads to see who was wringing their hands about similar precedents of red cards being suspended or deep concerns about everything surrounding Qatar's hosting in 2022 (the corruption in the bid process, the deeply harmful labor practices used by Qatari construction companies to build their stadia, the decision to hold that WC in December rather than June-July, etc).

As it stands, I don't care, except insomuch as it shows people's true colors when it comes to sportsmanship and fairness. God forbid any member of any government ever express frustration or make an inquiry about an appeal process or call for a result to be overturned, and God forbid any phone calls or social media posts be made on the topic.

 

[Karen-W]

There are people in my apartment complex who are HUGE Spain fans judging by the cheering and shouting I'm hearing right now at Spain finally scoring, lol.

Portugal 0-1 Spain

 

[Karen-W]

And there's the final whistle.

Spain onto the quarterfinals.

 

[once_upon]

Funny - Trump did acknowledge he called in a press conference before he was leaving for Turkey. "YES, I did call"

 

[Winnipeg]

Whatever one believes, if the US wins against Belgium, their victory will be tainted which is unfortunate.

I thought FIFA made a big deal about stating that a ref call would stay no matter what to avoid such credibility issues. I guess when it is Trump, that rule, like so many others, is thrown out the window.

I think the secondary decision in eliminating Belgium's appeal also was bad. However, when you think of FIFA leader, recall he gave Trump some ridiculous medal and trophy to kiss his you know what. Jumping at Trump's demand is no surprise.

 

[skategal]

I’d be so embarrassed if my Prime Minister inserted himself into a FIFA (or any other sport) referee call.

Sheesh.

 

[beepbeep]

From the non-soccer/football fan, who needs FIFA when there is Wimbledon on now!!

This thread is about the FIFA World Cup, so that’s your first clue.

 

[ballettmaus]

It's too bad Trump inserted himself, but the decision is the right one since the decision to give the red card was wrong per pretty much every knowledgeable commentator and FIFA's own rules.

I've seen comments by commentators which said differently.
Based on my knowledge, a red card is acceptable because the nature of the foul carries a very great risk of serious injury.
Additionally, the leg that steps onto the Bosnian player moves away from the ball and towards the leg of the player and my dad (who used to referee) always says players are skilled enough to know when they have the chance to get to the ball and when they don't.
Could it have been yellow, too? Possibly. But I don't think the red card can be just dismissed as wrong.

How do we know? And I am no fan of Trump and his interference. Just pointing out that there is precedent and lesser players/teams should not need the unfair interference to be treated the same, but this is FIFA we are talking about.

The last time a red card suspension was lifted was in 1962. I don't think it can be called precedence in a sport that's changed and evolved over 64 years and now uses technology and equipment the players in 1962 could only dream of.
The more recent use of the rule reduced a player's suspension which I don't think is the same.

I think this is an highly unusual decision and I don't know if it had happened had it been any other nation then the US (or Argentina since I think Messi deserved a red card for that foul in the first game, too).

 

[Coco]

It's too bad Trump inserted himself, but the decision is the right one since the decision to give the red card was wrong per pretty much every knowledgeable commentator and FIFA's own rules. Why should Belgium get a voice? The supposed infraction was committed against a Bosnian player, and Belgium has nothing to do with it.

I think it would have been overturned regardless, or should have been based on VAR rules. But Trump is putting facts out there that will let some people credit him with getting our best goal scorer back.

A few hours after the game with Bosnia Herzegovina, an ESPN article pointed out that regardless of whether or not it should have been a red card due to the collision on the field, it couldn't have been one under the rules for using VAR.

So...it was a red card awarded in an unprecedented way (entirely initiated by VAR) and now rescinded in an unprecedented way.

I don't think American fans who are happy with this decision see it as corruption. They see it as an injustice being rectified. We are so used to appeals, and appeals of appeals here, not to mention injunctions.

Everyone will find whatever bias confirming take they have on this situation and run with it.

ETA: This isn't the article I was thinking of, but it touches on the issues referenced above:

VAR review: VAR was uncomfortable with the replays that showed the Bosnian defender's right ankle buckle under contact from Balogun when both players were challenging for the ball. VAR believed Balogun was dangerous in his play and recommended the referee visit the pitchside monitor to review for a possible red card.

Verdict: Balogun can feel unfortunate to be red carded in this situation as, in my opinion, this was not a red card offense. With both players challenging for ball, the contact from Balogun on Muharemovic, while it looked bad in slow motion, was purely accidental and an unfortunate result from two players challenging for possession of the ball in a normal football movement.

VAR made their recommendation to the referee based on slow-motion and still replays, which is not aligned with VAR protocols, as these should be used for only point-of-contact purposes in a red card tackle situation. Once at the screen, however, it would have been a surprise if the referee did not send off Balogun considering the pictures he was presented by VAR.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/49298199/argentina-lionel-messi-world-cup-round-16-egypt-var-mohamed-salah

 

[alexikeguchi]

Everyone will find whatever bias confirming take they have on this situation and run with it.

Truer words...

 

[beepbeep]

It was a clear as day red card.

When a player decides to engage, he accepts the risk is liable should it not go well. It should be part of the player’s decision process.
If he rightly aimed at the ball, but still ended with the bottom of his foot on someone’s ankle, the intention doesn’t matter. It’s a red card.

 

[made_in_canada]

Belgium scores!

 

[beepbeep]

On a sartorial note, I loved the light blue Belgium team jackets.

 

[misskarne]

Go Belgium!

 

[skategal]

Belgium up 2-1 leading into half time.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

On a sartorial note, I loved the light blue Belgium team jackets.

The design is apparently based on Belgian painter Magritte's work which is awesome. And now it's 3-1 for Belgium - the power of art I guess.

 

[ilovepaydays]

OMG Why did Freese run out like that??!!

 

[skategal]

What was that goal?!?!?!?!

OMG.

We are laughing at the commentary “It was under control until it wasn’t.”

 

[ilovepaydays]

WAIT. Are those sprinklers coming on……a normal occurrence??!!

 

[beepbeep]

The design is apparently based on Belgian painter Magritte's work which is awesome. And now it's 3-1 for Belgium - the power of art I guess.

The shirt was and is full of little art easter eggs.
The jacket is the same blue as the shirt, but plain, with a pink detail on the collar

 

[skategal]

The USA goalkeeper seems to be on the struggle bus tonight.

 

[millyskate]

I actually liked the USA'a team.and style.of playing until this red card debacle.
Those who say it would have been overturned regardless of trump.because it was a bad call.started watching football.yesterday.

No card has been overturned since 1962 (and that was highly controversial) and this was not the first iffy red card ever handed out.

So I'm glad Belgium is putting the world to rights.

But then it's 3am and I've been woken by grumpy toddlers.

 

[Rob]

USA hasn’t played a Top 25 team until now and Belgium is ranked 8th. So not at all surprising. Like Zlatan said, a reality check.

 

[skategal]

USA looked alive for about 10 minutes that whole match.

The British commentator on TSN didn’t hold back calling it abysmal playing.

 

[ilovepaydays]

USA hasn’t played a Top 25 team until now and Belgium is ranked 8th. So not at all surprising. Like Zlatan said, a reality check.

YEP. This was always going to be a tough match. But Freese’s mistakes were just absurd. MY GAWD.

 

[alexikeguchi]

YEP. This was always going to be a tough match. But Freese’s mistakes were just absurd. MY GAWD.

The last goal especially reminded me of Paul Robinson's howler.