Folarin Balogun of the United States reacts after Belgium's third goal by Hans Vanaken during their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match, July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Sarah Stier/Fifa via Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- The United States' run in the 2026 World Cup has come to a close after a 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday.
The loss comes after the U.S. men's national team's star striker, Folarin Balogun, was deemed eligible to play in the match after his one-game suspension from a red card was put on hold by FIFA.
While the U.S. team expected a boost from Balogun's presence on the pitch, it could not recover from a pair of goals in the first half from Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere, despite a free kick goal from U.S. midfielder Malik Tillman that very briefly tied the game. Two more Belgian goals in the second half put victory out of reach for the Americans.
Belgium will go on to face Spain in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles on Friday.
Balogun was given a red card during the July 1 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina after the U.S. player clashed with an opposing player's foot in the second half. The penalty automatically landed Balogun a one-game suspension. FIFA told ABC News at the time that the call was final and not able to be overturned or appealed.
FIFA said on Sunday that "the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year."
The football governing body added that if Balogun "commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement."
Ahead of Monday night's game, the U.S. men's national team confirmed that Balogun will be in the starting lineup.
The Royal Belgium Football Association (RBFA) released a statement Sunday that said in part that it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to play in Monday's match against them.
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options," the RBFA statement further said.
European soccer's governing body, UEFA, said in a statement on Monday that a red card suspension is "a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," UEFA said.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters after last week's match, which the U.S. won 2-0, that Balogun was "sad" and "disappointed" about the call and that the clash was not intentional, according to ESPN.
The USMNT's victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina was their first in the World Cup round of 32 since 2002 and only their second knockout round victory in program history.
The American men's best result at the World Cup was a third-place finish at the inaugural tournament all the way in 1930.
The U.S. team had been impressive in the 2026 tournament, finishing the group stage with a 2-1 record, with wins over Paraguay and Australia before a loss to Turkey, which occurred once the team had already secured a spot in the next round.
ABC News' Kelly McCarthy and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
Tim Ream the United States applauds fans after their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Turkey, June 25, 2026 in Los Angeles. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- U.S. Men's National Team captain Tim Ream says the reversal of forward Folarin Balogun's red card ban is a "boost of positivity" for the team ahead of their World Cup showdown on Monday against Belgium in the Round of 16.
"I think he's excited that he can actually contribute on the field and not just be a cheerleader, but Balo, he's got a big smile, and he's been beaming ear to ear since we all found out the news," Ream told "Good Morning America," in an interview that aired Monday.
Balogun is now eligible to play in Monday's game following a red card he received during the team's July 1 match with Bosnia-Herzegovina for landing on an opposing player's ankle.
Balogun was ejected mid-match and subsequently received a one-game ban. FIFA told ABC News at the time that the referee's call was final and not able to be overturned or appealed.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters after the match, which the U.S. won 2-0, that Balogun was "disappointed" by the call, claiming the clash was not intentional, according to ESPN.
Following the July 1 game, President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and discussed the red card suspension, which would have forced Balogun to miss Monday's game, a U.S. official told ABC News on Monday.
The official said Trump wanted to better understand the reason the red card was given and why there was a suspension.
On Sunday, FIFA reversed course, announcing that "the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year" and adding that if Balogun "commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement."
FIFA's about-face has sparked outcry from other groups, including the European and Belgian soccer associations.
"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play" in Monday's match, the RBFA said in part in a statement Sunday.
"In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options," the group added.
In a follow-up statement on Monday, the RBFA said it was challenging FIFA's decision to dismiss its earlier red card ban and reinstate Balogun ahead of Monday's match.
The organization said it was "deeply concerned by the course of events" and pledged to fight the decision.
But FIFA said Monday afternoon it was rejecting the RBFA's appeal.
"The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision," FIFA said in part.
The Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, also expressed "disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision" in a statement Monday.
"A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension," it said in part.
"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined. Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition."
U.S. Soccer, meanwhile, welcomed FIFA's decision in a statement on Sunday.
"We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans," the group said.
The U.S. official who spoke to ABC News on Monday said the process for appealing a red card ban is run by an independent board, adding that the U.S. government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process and saying the "correct and proper outcome was achieved."
A soccer ball on the grass in the field by the net (Marcia Straub/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- The U.S. men's national team defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday night in their highest-stakes 2026 World Cup match so far, clinching a spot in the round of 16.
It was the U.S. men's team's first World Cup knockout win in 24 years.
The U.S. takes on Belgium on July 6.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, who scored a goal in the first half, was handed a controversial red card in the 64th minute following a clash with an opposing player. The red card makes him ineligible for the next match.
Later, Malik Tillman followed up Balogun's goal with a free kick in the 82nd minute, padding the U.S. lead.
Wednesday's win, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, came after the team's impressive first-place record in the group stage. The USMNT finished the group stage with a 2-1 record, with wins over Paraguay and Australia before a loss to Turkey, which occurred once the team had already secured a spot in the next round.
The matchup versus Bosnia-Herzegovina was the U.S. men's team first knockout game following the earlier group stage.
After 48 teams descended upon Canada, Mexico and the United States, 32 teams remained in the knockout stages, which started earlier this week, vying to hoist the trophy on July 19.
With its loss, Bosnia-Herzegovina is eliminated from the World Cup.
Earlier Wednesday, Belgium defeated Senegal 3-2, securing its spot in the next round.
On Tuesday, Mexico defeated Ecuador to advance.
The round of 32 kicked off to a dramatic start on Monday, with Brazil coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 before Paraguay eliminated Germany in penalty kicks , in one of the most shocking upsets of the tournament so far.
Morocco also topped Netherlands on Monday to clinch a spot in the next round.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
(LOS ANGELES) -- LeBron James will leave the Los Angeles Lakers and continue his career elsewhere, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, citing James' agent Rich Paul.
James recently completed his 23rd season in the NBA, and his eighth with the Lakers.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said, "LeBron James is one of the greatest athletes in history. We will always be thankful for his eight years with the Lakers - including the title he led us to in 2020 under the toughest imaginable circumstances and the countless records he broke in purple and gold."
The statement continued, "We wish him all the best in the future, both on the court and off. He will always be a cherished part of the Lakers family."
The announcement comes moments before the NBA's free agency period is set to kick off, where traditionally high-profile player movement is frequent.
With the announcement, James also leaves his son Bronny James in a Laker uniform. The younger James, who was drafted by the team in 2024, is still on the roster, but could be waived should the Lakers choose to part ways with him.
James' 23rd season marked the most seasons played in NBA history, and he will now build upon that legacy with his 24th campaign.
The icon of modern basketball, holds a plethora of records including all-time NBA leading scorer.
James finished his 23rd and final season with the Lakers averaging 20.9 points per game, 7.2 assists per game and 6.1 rebounds per game.
(NEW YORK) -- Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Royals 2, Rays 13 Mariners 1, Pirates 5 Athletics 9, Giants 6 Astros 2, Tigers 1 Phillies 10, Nationals 5 Rangers 6, Blue Jays 5 Cubs 4, Mets 3 Yankees 3, Red Sox 6 Diamondbacks, Cardinals (POSTPONED)
FIFA World Cup Curaçao 0, Ivory Coast 2 Ecuador 2, Germany 1 Japan 1, Sweden 1 Tunisia 1, Netherlands 3 Paraguay 0, Australia 0 Turkiye 3, United States 2
Chris Evert attends "Chris & Martina: The Final Set" Premiere during the 2026 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theater on June 10, 2026 in New York City. (Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- Tennis legend Chris Evert announced on social media Thursday that she will not be commentating at Wimbledon next week after learning over the weekend that her ovarian cancer had returned.
"I have always believed in being open and honest about my health journey," Evert wrote in a statement shared on Instagram and X. "This past weekend, after undergoing CT and PET scans, I learned that my ovarian cancer has returned. I have already undergone surgery as the first step in my treatment and recovery, and will begin chemotherapy in the coming weeks."
Evert, a tennis analyst for ESPN, had been scheduled to work as a commentator at this year's Wimbledon tournament in London, which runs from June 29 to July 12. In her statement Thursday, she said she would be stepping back from her professional commitments for the next several months "to focus on my health."
"Ovarian cancer is relentless, but I will stay optimistic and determined in continuing to fight this battle," she wrote. "I am deeply grateful to my medical team, my family, friends, and everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement. I look forward to seeing everyone again soon."
Evert was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, announcing the following year that she was cancer-free.
She received a second diagnosis just under a year later and revealed she was cancer-free again in July 2024.
Evert recently sat down with "Good Morning America" alongside longtime tennis rival turned friend Martina Navratilova and said their shared post-retirement cancer battles -- Navratilova was diagnosed twice, in 2010 and 2023, and is now cancer-free -- had "brought our relationship, our friendship, to another level because of the support and the care that we had for each other."
Evert made her major tournament debut at just 16 years old in the 1971 U.S. Open at Forest Hills, becoming the youngest semifinalist in the tournament's history, according to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She lost the match to eventual champion Billie Jean King.
Evert notched 18 Grand Slam titles over the course of her playing career. The former world No. 1 player also held that top ranking for 260 weeks, which according to the Women's Tennis Association is the fourth all-time record behind Steffi Graf (377 weeks), Navratilova (332 weeks) and Serena Williams (319 weeks).
Evert retired from professional tennis in 1989 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1995.
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FIFA World Cup Bosnia-Herzegovina 3, Qatar 1 Switzerland 2, Canada 1 Morocco 4, Haiti 2 Scotland 0, Brazil 3 Czechia 0, Mexico 3 South Africa 1, South Korea 0
Bode Miller attends the Kitz Legends Night at Hotel Grand Tirolia Kitzbuehel on January 21, 2026 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) -- Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller was arrested earlier this month on drug-related charges, according to court documents.
The American alpine ski racer was arrested in Idaho on two misdemeanor charges, including possession of a controlled substance and another for possession of drug paraphernalia, the documents noted.
Miller was released on a $5,000 cash bond, the records said. He pleaded not guilty to both charges after his arrest, according to the documents.
Miller's agent referred ABC News to a statement posted to his Instagram.
"I was pulled over for accelerating while passing another vehicle on a highway in Idaho. My friend, who was traveling with me, had a small amount of cannabis and cannabis pipe in his possession which I was unaware of," Miller wrote.
He noted that they fully cooperated with the officer, and expressed hope that the misdemeanor charges will be dropped "once the facts are reviewed."
In a statement to ABC News, the lead prosecutor confirmed that Miller was issued a citation and the misdemeanor offenses, but declined to make additional comments.
Miller is considered as one of the greatest alpine skiers in U.S. history. He is a six-time Olympic medalist and two-time overall World Cup champion.
His success in the sport also helped popularize skiing in the U.S.
Miller is married to professional beach volleyball player Morgan Beck and the couple share six children together.
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