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In a stunning twist ahead of the World Cup Round of 16, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has confirmed that United States men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play against Belgium on Monday in Seattle.

The 25-year-old forward was facing an automatic one-match suspension following a straight red card during the USMNT’s 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.

The decision gives the US a huge boost as they attempt to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.

Balogun has been a constant threat for the US so far this tournament, and has scored three goals in three starts.

Without him, US coach Mauricio Pochettino was scrambling to come up with other options in attack.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee said it made the decision in line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows it to suspend red cards so long as the discipline is not related to match-fixing.

Balogun will be on a probationary period of one year, meaning the red card technically still remains on his record.

If, during that year, Balogun commits what the code refers to as “another infringement of a similar nature and gravity,” the striker will serve his one-game ban.

President Donald Trump thanked football’s world governing body for suspending the red card.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“We accept the decision of the disciplinary committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” US Soccer said in a statement.

“Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”

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Naomi Osaka stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) victory on Sunday as the Japanese star moved into the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.

Osaka avenged a straight-sets defeat against Sabalenka in the French Open last 16 in June by eliminating her fellow four-time Grand Slam champion with a superb display on Centre Court.

It is five years since Osaka lifted her most recent Grand Slam trophy at the Australian Open.

Revitalised by coach Tomasz Wiktorowski, who mentored Iga Swiatek, the 28-year-old reached the semi-finals of the US Open last year and has carried that momentum into 2026.

Osaka is yet to drop a set across her opening four matches at Wimbledon.

Seeded 14th, she is finally finding her groove on grass, helped by the eye-catching outfits she arrives on court wearing.

Her walk-on costumes have included a kimono, a bomber jacket with a long train and a cloak that looks like an open kimono.

The 28-year-old believes all the talk about her haute couture has taken the pressure off her tennis.

Once again she treated fans to a memorable outfit before delivering a tailor-made performance that left Sabalenka’s Wimbledon challenge in tatters in the last 16.

Osaka faces Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova for a place in the last four.

“For me, this court is so special. This is the first match I’ve won on this court. It means a lot,” Osaka said.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun on the court, and to do it here really means a lot.

“I lost to her three times in a row. That really sucked. I wanted to have the opportunity to overturn that,” she added.

Home-cooking

Praising her mother’s home-cooking, who was watching from the players’ box, for inspiring her success over the last week, Osaka added, “She cooks a lot. I feel like her cooking is powering me. I would like another meal tonight. She cooks a lot of Japanese food.”

Osaka and Sabalenka had already collided three times in 2026, with the Belarusian winning on the hard courts of Indian Wells and on clay in Madrid and Roland Garros.

But the 28-year-old’s bid for a 15th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final came to an abrupt halt.

Sabalenka had lost in the semi-finals on each of her past three visits to Wimbledon and has never made the final.

The Belarusian suffered a surprise loss to Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals, and this was another painful result for a player with a history of unexpected meltdowns.

Osaka broke in the third game of the first set with a blistering backhand that fizzed past Sabalenka.

Blasting fierce ground strokes from the baseline, Osaka rattled Sabalenka to such an extent that the Belarusian let out an anguished scream after being broken for a second time.

Notorious for struggling in windy conditions, Sabalenka was completely out of rhythm and stormed off court for a break before the second set.

Sabalenka repeatedly banged the racquet against her head as Osaka took the set to a tie-break.

Sabalenka had won her last 21 tie-breaks at Grand Slams, but Osaka was unfazed, powering to victory with a flourish.

AFP

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Erling Haaland‘s brace helped Norway beat Brazil 2-1 and book a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.

Brazil’s hopes of winning a sixth FIFA World Cup title came to a shocking end on Sunday, July 5, 2026, after Norway secured a dramatic 2-1 victory in their Round of 16 clash, with Erling Haaland scoring twice to send the Scandinavian side into the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The round of 16 match was packed with drama from the opening stages. Brazil were awarded a penalty in the 14th minute after a VAR review, but Bruno Guimarães failed to convert as Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland produced a superb save to keep the score level. Norway also had an early goal ruled out for offside following another VAR intervention.

Despite dominating possession and creating several chances through Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Martinelli and Endrick, Brazil were repeatedly denied by Nyland, whose outstanding performance frustrated the five-time world champions throughout the contest.

Norway finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute when Haaland found space inside the penalty area and calmly slotted the ball past Alisson to hand his side a deserved lead. The Manchester City striker struck again in the 90th minute, finishing off a swift counterattack to double Norway’s advantage and leave Brazil on the brink of elimination.

Brazil managed to pull one back deep into stoppage time when Neymar converted a penalty in the 90+10th minute after another VAR review. However, the late goal was only a consolation as Norway held on for a famous 2-1 victory, knocking the five-time champions out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and booking a historic place in the quarter-finals.

The 2-1 win sent Norway into the World Cup quarter-finals while condemning Brazil to a shock exit, with Nyland’s penalty save and Haaland’s late double proving decisive on a dramatic night in New Jersey.