French soccer star Kylian Mbappé is embroiled in a scandal over racist remarks made by a Paraguayan senator that the United Nations Human Rights Office has called "dehumanizing" and "despicable" and have led to an investigation by French prosecutors.
As the USMNT forward left Seattle following the team's Round of 16 defeat to Belgium, attention quickly turned to his physical condition and his emotional reaction after another painful exit from the tournament. The United States’ 2026 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak, and Christian Pulisic was once again at the center of the story. As the USMNT forward left Seattle following the team’s Round of 16 defeat to Belgium, attention quickly turned to his physical condition and his emotional reaction after another painful exit from the tournament. Pulisic’s injury update and his biggest regret after the World Cup have now emerged, offering fresh insight into what the Milan star was feeling after the final whistle. His comments came after another difficult night for the USMNT, whose dream of a historic run on home soil ended with a heavy defeat. Mauricio Pochettino and his players suffered a 4-1 loss to Belgium in Seattle, bringing an end to a tournament that had begun with genuine optimism. After impressive victories earlier in the competition, the national team struggled to reproduce its best football against one of Europe’s strongest sides. Belgium built a commanding lead before Pulisic was forced off through injury in the second half. The defeat denied the United States a place in the World Cup quarterfinals and left players visibly devastated after the final whistle. La sequenza che ha portato all’infortunio di Pulisic la scorsa notte contro il Belgio #Milan pic.twitter.com/LBFtIgtu8J— Francesco Nasato (@FraNasato) July 7, 2026 The result also extended a frustrating trend for the American national team, which has now fallen in the Round of 16 in several consecutive World Cup appearances despite entering tournaments with increasing expectations. Pulisic offers injury update after Belgium clash The biggest concern immediately after the match centered on Pulisic’s condition after he limped off in the 59th minute following a challenge involving Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans. According to ESPN, the American forward confirmed exactly what happened after the collision. “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” Pulisic explained. “I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It’s just unfortunate way to finish.” Mauricio Pochettino also addressed the situation after the match, explaining that the injury appeared to involve Pulisic’s ankle while expressing hope that the forward would recover in time for preseason with the Rossoneri. Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts after challenged by Youri Tielemans #8 of Belgium The major regret Pulisic leaves the World Cup with While discussing his injury, Pulisic admitted his biggest disappointment had little to do with the physical pain. Instead, he regretted not being able to produce the decisive moments he believed the United States needed against elite opposition. Speaking after the defeat, the 27-year-old said: “I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high. Yeah, it’s disappointing. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team. I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well.” Those remarks summed up the frustration surrounding his tournament. Pulisic finished the World Cup without scoring a goal, despite arriving as the nation’s biggest star and primary attacking threat. Injuries disrupted Pulisic throughout the tournament The Belgium match was not the first physical setback Pulisic experienced during the competition. He suffered a left calf injury in the opening match against Paraguay, forcing him to miss part of the group stage before returning later in the tournament. After nearly completing the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, another injury struck during the biggest match of the campaign. The latest setback involved both his a
What happens next carries consequences that stretch far beyond 90 minutes, especially for the 2026 World Cup bracket itself. The Round of 16 clash between USMNT and Belgium in Seattle arrives with everything still on the line, and the final result between the two national teams remains undecided as kickoff approaches. One outcome could redefine how far the United States men’s national team can go in this tournament, while Belgium enters with its own ambitions of another deep World Cup run. What happens next carries consequences that stretch far beyond 90 minutes, especially for the 2026 World Cup bracket itself. There is a growing sense that this matchup is one of the defining moments of the tournament so far, even before a ball is kicked. The stakes are simple on the surface, yet complicated in their impact. As the USMNT prepares to face Belgium in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 fixture in Seattle, tactical discussions have been overshadowed by a major disciplinary controversy. Following his expulsion in the previous round, Folarin Balogun was widely expected to miss this crucial knockout tie. Instead, a dramatic, eleventh-hour decision to suspend his red-card ban has cleared the striker to play, entirely shifting Mauricio Pochettino’s attacking outlook and dominating the narrative just hours before kickoff. “The Belgian federation released a statement saying it was ‘astonished’ by the decision,” highlighting the tension surrounding FIFA’s ruling. Belgium’s head coach Rudi Garcia also pushed back, saying, “We’re not defending the national team or federation, we are defending football.” These reactions have added an emotional edge to an already high-pressure knockout fixture. DateUSMNT’s OpponentStageResultJune 12, 2026ParaguayGroup StageWin (4-1)June 19, 2026AustraliaGroup StageWin (2-0)June 25, 2026TürkiyeGroup StageLoss (2-3)July 1, 2026Bosnia and HerzegovinaRound of 32Win (2-0) The USMNT and Belgium also carry historical weight into the match, having met in memorable past tournaments. Their most famous encounter came in 2014, when Belgium eliminated the USMNT in extra time after a record-breaking performance from goalkeeper Tim Howard. Now, both national teams enter a new era with entirely different squads looking to write their own story. DateBelgium’s OpponentStageResultJune 15, 2026EgyptGroup StageDraw (1-1)June 21, 2026IranGroup StageDraw (0-0)June 26, 2026New ZealandGroup StageWin (5-1)July 1, 2026SenegalRound of 32Win (3-2, AET) What happens if the USMNT wins and Belgium loses? A victory for the United States would mark its deepest World Cup progression in more than two decades, instantly rewriting expectations for the program. The USMNT would advance to face the Spain in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles, a stage it has not reached since 2002. Tim Ream #13 and Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States. The presence of Folarin Balogun adds another layer of importance to this scenario, with his availability shifting attacking dynamics. His movement, pressing, and finishing ability could be decisive in a tight knockout contest. A win would also validate the team’s aggressive identity under pressure, with its high-intensity structure finally translating into elite results. It would also reinforce the belief that this generation can compete with Europe’s top sides on home soil. What happens if the match goes to a draw? A draw after regulation time does not preserve any safety net, as the knockout format forces a conclusion. In this scenario, both teams would enter extra time, where fatigue and small tactical margins often decide entire tournaments. The psychological tension would increase significantly, especially for a USMNT side playing in front of a home crowd. Belgium, meanwhile, would rely heavily on experience and individual quality in moments of chaos. Christian Pulisic #8 of the United States applauds fans after the team’s 2-0 victory If penalties are required, the outcome becomes even more unpredictabl
Kylian Mbappe's critics have suggested he wields too much power at Real Madrid and in the France team, but Didier Deschamps says otherwise. The post ‘Mbappe is not a dictator’ – Deschamps defends France captain against online criticism appeared first on SoccerNews.
France were held goalless for 70 minutes by Paraguay in Saturday's World Cup last-16 tie, as their opponents drew on the dark arts. The post Deschamps feared Mbappe would be ‘chopped down’ in ill-tempered Paraguay clash appeared first on SoccerNews.
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the game from a second-half penalty as France beat Paraguay in a cagey Round of 16 tie in Philadelphia on Saturday. Les Bleus will take on Morocco in the quarter-finals on Thursday in Boston.
