Overview
- France beat Paraguay 1-0 on July 4 with a VAR-awarded penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé, who now has 10 goals in World Cup knockout matches and will face Morocco in the quarterfinals.
- Norway eliminated Brazil 2-1 after Erling Haaland scored twice and goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland saved an early Bruno Guimarães penalty, sending Norway to a quarterfinal against England.
- England defeated Mexico 3-2 in Mexico City with a Jude Bellingham double and a Harry Kane penalty, surviving a second-half red card to set up the England–Norway quarterfinal.
- FIFA applied Article 27 to suspend the execution of Balogun’s automatic one-match suspension, making him available for USA–Belgium and prompting a formal protest from the Royal Belgian Football Association.
- The decision has ignited wider scrutiny after reports that President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request relief for Balogun, and the RBFA says it is evaluating legal options under the competition and disciplinary rules.