World Cup LIVE: Mauricio Pochettino breaks silence on USA World Cup exit after Balogun saga

World Cup LIVE: Mauricio Pochettino breaks silence on USA World Cup exit after Balogun saga Follow LIVE updates as the 2026 World Cup continues with FIFA president Gianni Infantino responding to comments made by US President Donald Trump The USA crashed out of the World Cup after being beaten 4-1 by Belgium. The build-up to the round of 16 battle was dominated by the saga around Folarin Balogun's ban being suspended for a year. President Donald Trump spoke with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino and asked the governing body to review the red card he earned against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The day before the quarter-final, it was confirmed he could feature for the US against Belgium, which infuriated the Europeans. In the end, they got the last laugh as a brace from Charles de Ketelaere and strikes from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku secured a comfortable win for the Belgians. Before that clash, Spain dumped Portugal out of the round of 16 thanks to a late winner from Mikel Merino. The Arsenal midfielder ghosted in to put a low finish past Diogo Costa, sealing the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's 'last dance' at the competition. Elsewhere, England are already into the quarter-final after their dramatic 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico on Sunday night, and the Three Lions will now face Norway in their next fixture. There will also be updates on the injury suffered by England star Jordan Henderson, which occurred during the celebrations after the Three Lions' win in Mexico City on Sunday evening. Here, Mirror Football provides the latest updates on everything that happens at the World Cup today... Key Events The football will not be stopping today. At 5pm, Lionel Messi and Argentina will return to face Egypt in their World Cup round of 16 clash. At 9pm, Switzerland and Colombia will do battle FIFA has defender Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after Donald Trump described him as "suspect" for red carding Folarin Balogun. While he was defending his phone call with Gianni Infantino, which triggered Balogun's suspension being suspended for a year, Trump attacked Claus during a recent conference. FIFA have since issued a statement protecting Claus, saying: “FIFA recognises Raphael Claus as one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member of Team One – FIFA’s elite group of referees – at the FIFA World Cup. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.” FIFA referee chief Pierluigi Collina also said: "Raphael Claus is refereeing at his second FIFA World Cup, having been with us in Qatar in 2022. He is an experienced and highly respected referee, and we maintain full confidence in him as a trusted match official.” Belgium made a thinly veiled jibe at FIFA and Donald Trump after they comfortably beat the USA 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16. Mauricio Pochettino dodged a question about the Folarin Balogun saga after the USA's loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. He said: "FIFA and all the different people involved explained, and those are the rules. It was a clear explanation, so I have no comment on that [President Trump admitting today he called Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's red]. "Belgium was the better team." "We need to learn. It's a process to learn. We need to see why we did not approach the game in the same way as the rest of the World Cup. Maybe the explanation is easy, it just wasn't our day. "The responsibility is myself. We need to check what we did because it's not the performance the way we played." "From the beginning we didn't connect with the game. Even when we scored, 1-1, we concede in the next action. It was really tough from the beginning. I congratulate Belgium, they were better than us. "It was not our day. It's not to find excuses or argument, because we did not show normally what the team shows and that is the reality." USA captain Tyler Adams believes inspiring American children to take up football will be enough of a victory to them. In his post-match interview, he said: "Yeah, that tonight can't be a direct reflection of what we were trying to accomplish. Because, again, you have good days and you have bad days. "And today was one of our bad days, and it got the best of us. I think we came out here with the ambition that we could go really far in this tournament. We didn't, obviously, go as far as we'd like. "That being said, if we inspired just a few kids throughout this journey, then we did something right. I wish we could have won tonight. The fans deserved it. The support that we've had over the past few weeks, they deserve it. " The people back home deserve it. So, yeah, I can't thank the fans enough. I can't thank this coaching staff, the support staff, and everyone that supported us throughout this journey enough. They've helped us grow, and we've gone through tough times and amazing times throughout this journey. Right now is a tough time, but we'll grow from it." Mauricio Pochettino was not a happy man after his side conceded so easily against Belgium. Here is the moment the USA boss lost his cool completely. And that's the game and that's the end of the USA's World Cup. They will depart their own tournament having lost 4-1 in Seattle. Mauricio Pochettino's side will remain as the centre of attention after the saga around Folarin Balogun's suspension being suspended for a probationary year. There is absolutely no coming back from this. Romalu Lukaku has made the score a rout with an emphatic finish after coming off the bench. It's more poor defending from the hosts, who tied themselves in knots by trying to play out from the back. Lukaku finds the far corner with a lethal finish to ensure Belgium will be in the quarter-final! Mauricio Pochettino booted a drinks box after the USA conceded against the Belgians. They are in big trouble against Rudi Garcia's side, trailing them 3-1. After they conceded their first goal, Pochettino let his anger out in emphatic fashion by kicking the box on the touchline. Things did not get any easier as they fell to a 3-1 defeat after several individual errors. Hans Vanaken has scored a third for Belgium and it's a calamity of a goal to concede for the USA. Matt Freese had a sudded brain freeze, leaving his goal-line to get the ball. But instead of clearing it, while 30 yards from goal, he stopped, unaware of his surroundings. Charles de Ketelaere nicked the ball of his toes and Vanaken was there to pass into an empty net. Mauricio Pochettino's side are in huge trouble! The second half has began! Can the hosts get back? Charles de Ketelaere's brace has put Belgium into the lead at half time. The USA are going to have to work very hard to get back level again! Thomas Tuchel was left looking terrified after John Stones told him he had a sore shoulder. Fortunately for the Three Lions, Stones was pranking the England manager. The ex-Manchester City defender clutched his shoulder while Declan Rice told the German Stones was in pain. However, with the shoulder he suggested was hurt, the central defender started dancing to let Tuchel know it was a practical joke. Well, that didn't take long. Leandro Trossard floats a perfect cross onto the head of Charles De Ketelaere who finds the net again. The USA were level for barely 90 seconds. It's advantage Belgium again! That's just what the USA needed. After being pinned back by Belgium, the World Cup hosts are now level. Malik Tilman's free-kick has skimmed off the head of Hans Vanaken and flown past Thibault Courtois. Game on! Roy Keane could not believe what he was hearing when he heard Donald Trump's rambling conference about Folarin Balogun's red card. The US president confirmed he reached out to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to request a review into the red card the USA player picked up against Bosnia and Herzegovina. His suspension was suspended for a probationary period of one year, something which has not been done since 1962. As Trump spoke about the phone call and how he felt the referee who dismissed Balogun was "suspect" Keane was shocked. Speaking on the Overlap, the Manchester United legend leant forward and asked Gary Neville "Is this real?" with a shocked look on his face. Belgium are ahead and there's nothing Donald Trump will be able to do to stop this. Charles De Ketelaere taps in from close range after some great work from Nicolas Raskin. Wow, that national anthem had everything. Red, blue and white smoke and fireworks proceeded the star spangled banner. As the USA players looked up to the sky, they would have seen some jets fly over the stadium. It's fair to say they are up for it today! This is how Belgium will line-up against the World Cup hosts. France president Emmanuel Macron has spoken out in support of Kylian Mbappe after the forward was racially abused by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla. The World Cup winner described her abuse as "despicable" after she called him a "colonised Cameroonian desperately trying to pass himself off as French". Macron has since supported Mbappe by taking to social media and writing: "Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time. All my support. When words defile, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity." The United States team to face Belgium has been confirmed, and Folarin Balogun has been included in the starting line-up by manager Mauricio Pochettino. Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has revealed that he plans to step down from his role as the country’s manager following their World Cup exit. Spain claimed a 1-0 win over Portugal, and Martinez has now explained why he believes his time as manager of the team, which includes Cristiano Ronaldo, should come to an end. Martinez told reporters: It's the end of the cycle. It's important to have a new voice, a new leader.I take with myself the memories, and hope that Portugal has good memories in the three and a half years I was head coach of the team. It was the experience of my life.It had not been decided previously [that I would leave after the tournament]. I came with the goal to win the World Cup, and because I did not win, it does not make sense to continue. United States striker Folarin Balogun has been handed a fine despite escaping a ban following his red card at the World Cup. Balogun was sent off during the USA's win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, but his one-game band has been suspended by FIFA, meaning he is available to face Belgium in the last-16 tie. However, reports have claimed that the former Arsenal striker has been fined thousands as a result of his red card. Dan Marsh for Mirror Football has provided the latest on Spain's 1-0 win over Portugal in the last-16 in Dallas. VIctory for Spain sets up a quarter-final against either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-final. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal now exit the World Cup, with thr 41-year-old now potentially having played his last ever match at the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears after his international career came to an end after Portugal's World Cup exit at the hands of Spain, reports Stephen Killen. Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino scored the winner in stoppage-time as the European Champions moved into the quarter-finals thanks to the 1-0 win. The defeat spells the end for Ronaldo and head coach Roberto Martinez, who revealed that he relinquish his position after the World Cup. The 41-year-old couldn't inspire his nation to victory over Luis de la Fuente's side as the solitary goal from Merino proved to be the difference. The full time whistle goes and it's Spain who emerge victorious 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Mikel Merino to reach the quarter-final of the World Cup. The goal means Portugal are out of the tournament, which means that Cristiano Ronaldo may now have played his final international match at the World Cup. Finally, the opening goal of the game is scored and it goes to Spain. Arsenal star Mikel Merino puts Spain in front in stoppage to put his country on the verge of reaching the quarter-final at the expense of Portugal. Portugal 0-1 Spain on 90+1 minutes The hydration break has arrived in the second half and it remains goalless between Portugal and Spain here in Dallas. There's still everything to play for, so stay tuned for live updates to see which country will go on to reach the quarter-final.