The USA's World Cup is over after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium.
Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith are joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton from the stadium to react to the hosts' dramatic exit, the fallout from Folarin Balogun's controversial red-card suspension and the debate surrounding Donald Trump's call to FIFA over the decision.
NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and part owner of Leeds, Larry Nance Jr, reflects on what this World Cup has meant for football in the United States and whether the tournament has left a lasting legacy.
Plus, Guillem Balague looks back on the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup career after Portugal's exit, reflecting on his extraordinary legacy and where he ranks among football's all-time greats.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal crashed out of the World Cup following defeat against Spain (Picture: Getty)
Cristiano Ronaldo was accused of ‘waddling like a granddad’ as Portugal’s World Cup adventure came to an end following a 1-0 defeat against Spain.
Mikel Merino’s injury-time winner proved decisive as the reigning European champions advanced to the quarter finals where they will meet Belgium, who thrashed co-hosts USA 4-1 in their last 16 tie.
Ronaldo cut a figure of frustration at the final whistle upon the realisation that his World Cup dream had yet again ended in ignominious failure following a limp display.
For all their attacking options, Spain’s campaign has been founded on a miserly defence that has now kept a record six clean sheets in a row.
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The 41-year-old Ronaldo was unable to lay a glove on his opponents with La Roja’s central defensive partnership of Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi enjoying arguably their most comfortable game of the tournament so far.
Indeed, Ronaldo was so ineffective over the course of the 90 minutes that former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, co-commentating on the game for BBC 5 Live, branded him geriatric.
He said: ‘He’s waddling around the field like a granddad. Honestly, that’s why Portugal are out.
Cristiano Ronaldo has played his last World Cup match (Picture: Getty)
‘There’s a lot of them probably walking off the pitch now thinking Ronaldo you’ve killed us in this tournament. You’re the reason we’ve gone out, you’re the reason we’ve struggled in the final third.’
While Sutton was angered by Ronaldo’s performance, he reserved the majority of his ire for Portugal’s outgoing manager Roberto Martinez.
Having watched Goncalo Ramos score the winner against Croatia in the previous round, Sutton was left frustrated by Martinez’s decision to keep the PSG striker on the bench and persist with Ronaldo for the entire game.
Goncalo Ramos was left on the bench against Spain (Picture: Shutterstock)
Chris Sutton was angered by Roberto Martinez’s management of Goncalo Ramos (Picture: X)
He said: ‘This is all on the manager. How can Goncalo Ramos come off the bench and score the winner against Croatia and not actually get a minute.
‘What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander? His job was to try and win the World Cup and put the best team out for Portugal. Has he done that? Absolutely not.
‘It’s scandalous the way he has managed this team. Why did they not throw a punch?
‘Your team is only as good as your centre forward. You can put the bulk of it on Ronaldo but more you put on the manager.
Roberto Martinez is likely to have overseen his last match as Portugal manager (Picture: Getty)
‘You centre forward has to move, he has to contribute, he has to press, he has to have variation in his play and he doesn’t, he’s waddling around the field like a granddad.
‘Ronaldo does nothing, he does absolutely nothing. He can sit in a press conference and say he got three goals and it’s all about him.
‘But there are some brilliant players in that Portugal team who will feel this World Cup was a complete waste of time.’
In a subsequent rant on X, Sutton doubled down on his criticisms, adding: ‘Roberto Martinez is an embarrassment. Goncalo Ramos stays on the bench. Ronaldo does what he wants again! Portugal were a freak show, a circus. Martinez so weak.’
Romelu Lukaku leads the celebrations as Belgium hammer USA (Picture: Getty Images)
Belgium hammered USA 4-1 in Seattle on Monday and their players trolled Donald Trump with his signature dance moves after Romelu Lukaku completed the scoring.
Charles de Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken netted the third and Lukaku rounded off the scoring in a resounding win after the US had been level through Malik Tillman on 31 minutes.
Controversy surrounded Folarin Balogun’s inclusion after the USA striker was handed a one-match ban for his red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but that punishment was then suspended for a year by FIFA.
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Goalkeeper Thibault Courtois also stuck the knife in, saying Belgium were more confident in this round than the last because Senegal are a better team than the Americans.
Lukaku adds the finishing touch to a dominant Belgian display! 💥
The Belgian players didn’t quite hit the dance like Donald Trump does (Picture: Getty Images)
‘The lack of respect we have received in the last few days…’, the Real Madrid star said after the match. ‘That the US would easily beat us, that we are no longer a good team.
‘I understand that they want to hype up the US, but I felt more confident than against Senegal, because they had a better team. I think we proved today that we are a good team. We pinned them down from the start.’
Midfielder Nicolas Raskin added: ‘A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days. There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field.’
US manager Mauricio Pochettino said the Balogun controversy was not the reason for his team underperforming, but did share his disappointment with some of the reaction to the story.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team were far from their best against Belgium (Picture: Getty Images)
‘It didn’t affect our performance. It’s not an excuse. It wasn’t our day,’ said the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss.
‘But in a personal way, what is the point to insult or receive a lot of bad messages?
‘It’s a rule for the federation to apply and to try [to overturn the ban]. My position was to train the team. If Balogun is available because FIFA allow for you to have the player, it’s not a problem.
‘I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity [first]. If we talk about the history of this game, I am disappointed in a personal way.’
The official X account of the Belgium men’s national team joined in the celebrations, posting pictures of Lukaku with the caption: ‘Overturn this.’
The Belgium manager, Rudi Garcia, revealed that Balogun came to speak to him after the game, saying: ‘Balogun came to talk to me, I liked that. It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame. I told him that. I appreciate he came to talk to me.’
Belgium’s reward is a quarter-final contest with Spain after the European champions beat Portugal 1-0 with a late Mikel Merino winner.
England are through to the World Cup quarter-finals after surviving the game of the tournament so far.
Goals, red cards, VAR drama and an unforgettable night at the Azteca Stadium had it all as Thomas Tuchel's side edged past Mexico in a last-16 classic.
With Lloyd Griffith back from Las Vegas, he joins Rick Edwards and Dion Dublin to relive an extraordinary evening, break down how England overcame one of their toughest tests yet and ask what it means for their World Cup hopes.
Plus, friend of the pod Greg James checks in, fresh from Taylor Swift's wedding, with a voice note from Brazil v Norway.
Thomas Tuchel masterminded England’s World Cup win against Mexico (Picture: Getty)
Backbeat the word is on the street you didn’t stay up until 4am for a stone cold World Cup classic.
You won’t make many bigger mistakes in your football watching lives as England booked their place in the quarter finals in dramatic, history-making fashion.
Forgive me another Oasis reference but Thomas Tuchel, there are many things that I would like to say to you.
I have frequently championed the Three Lions head coach as England’s ace in the pack and ignored the noise that accompanied some insipid displays in a series of meaningless friendlies.
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England's hero (Picture:Getty)
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For all the resilience and endeavour his players demonstrated last night, it was Tuchel’s decision making and in-game management that ultimately got his side over the line.
Ridiculed for his squad selection, overlooking the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer, his faith in players he knew could dig deep and would be prepared to go to the well in times of adversity was thoroughly vindicated in the heat of the Azteca cauldron.
That said, Tuchel would’ve known he’d be facing a tidal wave of criticism had the sending off of Jarell Quansah, the makeshift right-back who had been deputising for the second choice right-back, proved decisive.
Switching to a back five invited pressure but in Dan Burn and John Stones, Tuchel knew he had two towers of power that would be capable of maintaining composure and, when required, ready to throw their considerable frames in front of incoming danger.
Eyebrows, too, would’ve been raised when Tuchel opted to remove Elliot Anderson from the England engine room and trust Declan Rice, booked in the opening minute of the contest, to maintain his discipline and help see out the game.
England celebrate a heroic win in Mexico (Picture: Getty)
The Arsenal midfield powerhouse, nursing various injuries, did just that, snuffed out fires and still found the energy reserves to drive his team forward on the rare occasions such opportunities arose.
That Rice ended up wearing the armband with Kane having been taken off in the closing stages was particularly fitting.
Not to wish the remainder of England’s all-time leading goalscorer’s international career away, but whenever he decides he’s had enough of playing for his country, the decision as to who replaces him as captain could not be more straightforward.
Declan Rice after England beat Mexico (Picture: Getty)
Ten-man England beat Mexico at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
While England’s victory was, due to circumstances partly beyond their control, founded on a unity and collective spirit, it should not be lost that the two-goal margin they established in the first half came as a result of some of their most cohesive attacking play of the tournament thus far.
Bukayo Saka’s stealth and the accuracy of his final ball contributed to Jude Bellingham’s opener, while Anthony Gordon’s tigerish workrate was a key ingredient in the Real Madrid star’s second goal.
Further improvements will of course be required if England are to overcome Norway this coming weekend, let alone Argentina and France, but in Tuchel we must trust and after last night’s heroics, why wouldn’t we?
England boss Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup (Picture: Getty)
England fans have been warned there is ‘no way’ the World Cup last-16 game against Mexico will kick-off on time.
Thomas Tuchel’s side, bidding to win their first World Cup since 1966, face co-hosts Mexico at 6pm local time on Sunday evening.
The time difference means millions of England fans are bracing themselves for a 1am kick-off in the early hours of Monday morning.
FIFA were for a few hours in talks with England and Mexico over moving the game to an earlier kick-off which would have seen the game start at 7pm UK time.
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Weather forecasts suggest there could be thunderstorms in Mexico City on Sunday evening, although this was not believed to be the primary reason for the proposed change.
Instead FIFA reportedly proposed the kick-off change for fan safety as they had been involved in planning and security discussions after four people died following Mexico’s last World Cup win over Ecuador, which started at 7pm local time in the same city.
But football decision-makers at England and Mexico were uneasy at the proposal and concerned over the impact on player preparation, fan travel and general logistics.
Tuchel inspects the Mexico City Stadium pitch (Picture: Getty)
As a result millions of England fans are preparing to stay away through the night or setting their alarms for the early hours of the morning to see if Tuchel’s side can advance to the quarter-finals.
Several reporters on the ground are still concerned by the weather forecast, however, and anticipate lengthy delays to the last-16 fixture.
Thunder and lightning delayed Mexico’s last-32 win over Ecuador by an hour and talkSPORT presenter Olivia Buzaglo expects similar scenes for England’s game.
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‘Being in Mexico City, you can understand why they wanted to change the kick off time,’ she posted on X.
‘It’s nearly 5pm here and it is absolutely hammering it down. Like properly. Absolutely no way the game kicks off at 6pm tomorrow. There’s been about 15 lightning bolts in half an hour.’
What’s the weather forecast in Mexico City?
‘Daily thunderstorms are normal in Mexico City at this time of year – but forecasts suggest the risk on Sunday is particularly high, and if those storms develop they could be severe,’ BBC Lead Weather Presenter Ben Rich said.
‘Mexican government forecasters say troughs – small-scale low pressure features – are expected in the middle and upper layers of the atmosphere over central parts of Mexico on Sunday, making the atmosphere very unstable.
English fan in Mexico – The Mexican 🇲🇽 weather is crazy – grey then sunny then it rains …. Mexico City is flooded this is why they wanted to move the time of the game !!! pic.twitter.com/ep8YcKk9JG
— Paul Brown 🇬🇧 Browns fan🏈 London News 🎥Vlogger (@PaulBrown_UK) July 4, 2026
‘As the sun heats the air close to the ground, that instability will allow the air to rise rapidly – forming the big cumulonimbus clouds that produce thunderstorms.
‘On Sunday these storms look likely to bring frequent lightning, and there is also the risk of hail.
‘Thunderstorm activity tends to peak around, or just after, the highest temperatures of the day – during the late afternoon and into the evening.
‘An earlier kick-off time would have allowed the match to take place before the worst of the thunderstorm activity gets going – although that is certainly not guaranteed.
‘There is still a chance of showers at midday, albeit the chance is smaller than it would be later in the day – and any showers that do develop would be less likely to grow into severe thunderstorms.’
England are four games from glory (Picture: Getty)
England are gearing up for a mouthwatering World Cup Round of 16 clash against Mexico tonight.
The co-hosts boast a formidable record at the legendary stadium having won 70 of their 89 competitive games at the Azteca, suffering only two defeats at home in the entire history of the stadium.
The showdown at the Azteca, which sits 7,220ft above sea level, is one of four games Thomas Tuchel’s men must win over the course of the next two weeks if they are to claim their first major trophy since 1966.
Here’s who, and when, England could play in the remainder of the World Cup knockout stages.
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England's hero (Picture:Getty)
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Mexico are facing England for a place in the last eight (Picture: Getty)
Quarter-final
Should England achieve the seemingly impossible and beat Mexico, they will play either Brazil or Norway, who face each other this evening at 9pm.
The match would take place at 10pm on Saturday, July 11.
Facing Brazil would be a repeat of the 2002 quarter-final, which England infamously lost 2-1 courtesy of a Ronaldinho free-kick.
England and Norway, meanwhile, have never met at a major tournament before.
England could play Brazil in the last eight (Picture: Getty)
Semi-final
England would return to Atlanta, the location of their Round of 32 match, for a possible semi-final tussle with Lionel Messi’s Argentina on Wednesday, July 15 at 8pm.
The two great rivals have not played each other in a competitive game since a group stage meeting at the 2002 World Cup, which the Three Lions won 1-0.
Other potential semi-final opponents for England include Switzerland and Colombia.
Final
Spain or France – take your pick – could stand in the way of England winning their second World Cup and ending their 60 years of pain.
Other possible teams include Morocco, Portugal, USA or Belgium.
The final will take place in New York on Sunday, July 19, with kick-off at 8pm.
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