World Cup round-up: Donald Trump mocked as Belgium batter USA, boss quits and Ronaldo cries

The embarrassing Donald Trump-led saga that cast a dark shadow over the 2026 World Cup and stained FIFA is over after the USA were dumped out of the tournament by Belgium.

Folarin Balogun was shockingly included in the USA’s starting XI to face Belgium despite previously being sent off in the win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The striker’s ban was disgracefully overturned by a FIFA Disciplinary Committee following a personal phone call from the US President to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. But even with Balogun, the tournament co-hosts were no match for the Europeans.

Elsewhere, Ronaldo’s World Cup is over and his manager Roberto Martinez has resigned after Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain, with the 41-year-old forward unable to have any positive impact on the game. He is the only player to score in six World Cups, but he will not score in another one. Here’s everything you need to know after another action-packed night at the 2026 World Cup, in our daily morning round-up.

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Belgium batter the USA and mock Trump

Belgium thrashed the USA 4–1 in Seattle to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals and knock out the last remaining host nation.

Despite Monaco striker Balogun controversially being cleared to play and Malik Tillman netting a free kick for the Americans, a double from Charles De Ketelaere along with goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku secured the win for the Red Devils.

USA manager Mauricio Pochettino completely lost his cool on the touchline as he watched his team fall apart defensively against Belgium, reports the Mirror.

The animated former Tottenham and Chelsea boss was seen smashing a box of Powerade water bottles in sheer frustration after De Ketelaere bagged his second goal of the game.

Roy Keane, speaking on ITV, was so taken aback by Trump’s explanation for how he called Infantino, that he asked “is this real?” when Gary Neville relayed Trump’s comments back to him.

After their emphatic win, several Belgium players were spotted taking a dig at the American political saga. The squad teased Donald Trump’s direct intervention in the boardroom and FIFA’s acquiescence, revelling in the fact it didn’t rescue the US team.

But they also mocked it on the pitch, as Lukaku and co did ‘the Trump dance’ in celebration after he bagged his goal.

Meanwhile FIFA defended match official Raphael Claus amid the controversy surrounding Balogun’s initial – and correct – dismissal. Infantino backed the Brazilian referee after Trump labelled the official “suspect”.

Roberto Martinez quits as Ronaldo exits in tears

Roberto Martinez resigned as the manager of Portugal after their Round of 16 departure from the World Cup that left Ronaldo in tears.

A last-minute winner from Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino allowed Spain to advance at their expense in a tight 1-0 defeat, marking a bitter end to Martinez’s underwhelming three-and-a-half-year stint with Portugal.

Ronaldo, 41, is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, five-time Champions League winner and Euro 2016 champion who has scored at a record six World Cups, but the closest he got to winning the competition was when Portugal reached the semi-finals in his first tournament in 2006.

He had already revealed this would be his last World Cup, and when asked if he will retire from international football following the defeat, said: “I will meet the family and take decisions with a calm head.”

BBC pundit Chris Sutton slammed Ronaldo for “waddling around the field like a grandad”, adding “that’s why Portugal are out”.

The former England striker said: “Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”

Martinez meanwhile praised Ronaldo, saying: “We need to thank him for what he tried to do at this World Cup.

“His dream was to win this World Cup, he did this with an amazing example. He is a prime example of football and the human being that is behind that athlete.”

Thomas Tuchel hoodwinked with bogus injury scare

After England’s exhilarating 3–2 triumph over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, international team-mates John Stones and Declan Rice decided to pull a playful prank on their gaffer.

The cheeky pair successfully duped Thomas Tuchel by orchestrating a phoney injury scare during the post-match festivities.

Former Manchester City man Stones was seen clutching his arm and feigning pain, with Rice calling for medical attention, only to burst into a dance as a clearly concerned Tuchel realised he’d been pranked.

Emmanuel Macron supports Kylian Mbappe

French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly lauded national team skipper Kylian Mbappe for his staunch stance against racism.

Mbappe had vehemently criticised Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla for her deeply offensive and racist attack following their World Cup match, when France triumphed 1-0 thanks to his goal.

Celeste Amarilla wrote a vicious tirade on X, describing Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to ⁠pass himself off as French” and as a “brute who had not learned to write”. Paraguay’s players should have ‌slapped him after the ‌match, she added.

The Real Madrid forward responded: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world ‌has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) said it plans to file ⁠criminal charges, describing her remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.