U.S. Loss to Belgium Is Gut Punch, but Bright Future Remains for Soccer Here - The New York Times

• The U.S. Men's National Team's loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 triggered record-breaking betting activity for American sportsbooks. • BetMGM reported that the match became the most-bet soccer game in its history, surpassing betting volumes for the NCAA basketball championship and various professional sports championship series.

• Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 after scoring three unanswered goals starting in the 79th minute to secure a comeback victory. • Lionel Messi extended his historic record by scoring in eight consecutive World Cup matches, a streak continuing from Argentina's 2022 championship run.

• Members of the European Parliament are calling for an investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding the reversal of a red card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. • The probe seeks to determine if the U.S. administration exerted undue pressure on FIFA to allow Balogun to return to play.

• Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has drawn interest from clubs in Spain and Italy, with a £5 million release clause allowing him to leave. • Reports claiming Martin Odegaard agreed to a transfer to Turkey have been debunked, as the midfielder remains happy at Arsenal.

• England has officially secured a position in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. • The team advanced after successfully navigating the earlier knockout stages of the tournament.

• The U.S. Men's National Team set several new records during their recent World Cup campaign, despite exiting the tournament earlier than expected. • A key highlight included a strong opening match where the team scored four goals against Paraguay, contributing to historic firsts for the program.

• The United States' World Cup run ended abruptly after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, a result that set betting records and generated significant profits for bookmakers. • In other match results, Spain advanced after a late victory over Portugal, while Argentina prepares for a round-of-16 matchup against Egypt.

• The United States' round of 16 match against Belgium at the FIFA World Cup has become the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history, according to preliminary ratings from Fox. • While the game drew record-breaking viewership, the U.S. team ultimately suffered a loss to Belgium.

• Global newspapers are reacting to Donald Trump's recent intervention regarding the 2026 World Cup. • In a separate story, The Times reports that some Wimbledon fans are frustrated by tennis stars stealing the tournament's official towels.

• Belgium advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals after defeating the USA 4-1 in Seattle, with goals from Charles De Ketelaere (2), Hans Vanaken, and Romelu Lukaku. • The victory secures Belgium a high-stakes quarter-final matchup against Spain.

• The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) is preparing for a critical last-16 World Cup match in Seattle this Monday. • This home-soil appearance occurs amidst record-setting audiences and a significantly increased cultural resonance for soccer in the U.S. compared to the 2002 run.