Belgium

• Belgium eliminated the USMNT from the World Cup following a dominant victory fueled by a first-half brace from Charles De Ketelaere. • The U.S. managed one goal via a deflected strike from Malik Tillman, who became the first player since 1982 to record two free-kick goals in a single tournament. • Belgium extended their lead in the second half with goals from Hans Vanaken, who became their oldest-ever knockout stage scorer, and Romelu Lukaku.

• Violent disorder erupted in London following France's victory over Morocco during the 2026 World Cup. • The unrest occurred as Spain and Belgium prepared for their upcoming quarter-final showdown. • Current betting odds place France as the favorite at 6/4, followed by Argentina, Spain, and England at 9/2.

• The World Cup 2026 quarter-finals commence this Thursday, featuring matchups between France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England, and Argentina vs Switzerland. • France enters the knockout stage as the tournament favorite according to the Opta Supercomputer, following three group stage wins and a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden in the round of 32. • Despite their strong start, France's momentum is under scrutiny after a less convincing round-of-16 win against Paraguay.

• Over 30 million viewers tuned in to watch the U.S. men's national soccer team face Belgium in a World Cup knockout stage match on Monday night in Seattle. • The game was broadcast by Fox, drawing a massive audience that underscores the growing popularity of the sport within the United States. • This surge in viewership is significant as it sparks broader debates regarding the future growth and commercial potential of American soccer.

• The U.S. Men's National Team suffered a disappointing loss to Belgium during the World Cup, failing to meet the high expectations of many domestic fans. • Despite the defeat, the tournament highlighted the growth of soccer in the U.S., fueled by star players like Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, and Weston McKennie who compete in top European leagues. • The event mirrors the impact of the 1994 World Cup by increasing national interest through high-quality play and the presence of international fans in U.S. cities.

• The U.S. national team's round of 16 World Cup match against Belgium became the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history, according to preliminary ratings released by Fox on Tuesday. • The high-stakes game took place on Monday, July 6, 2026, drawing massive viewership across the country and sparking large celebrations at venues like the Rockefeller Center fan village in New York. • This record-breaking viewership highlights the surging popularity of soccer within the United States and the significant cultural impact of the World Cup.

• European lawmakers are calling for a formal investigation into FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding his conduct and external influences. • The probe centers on concerns that Infantino may have had improper contact with Donald Trump to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play in a match against Belgium despite a red card. • This development highlights ongoing scrutiny over transparency and potential political interference within FIFA's disciplinary processes.

• 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. • The high-stakes match also triggered betting records, resulting in significant profits for gambling houses.

• 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 match was overshadowed by controversy surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump's reported intervention regarding a red card given to Folarin Balogun.

Fans across Belgium watched 4-1 win in early hoursVictory ‘a real slap in the face for Trump and Infantino’Belgium fans reacted with jubilation after the national team trounced the USA in a World Cup game that was overshadowed by the controversy over Donald Trump’s lobbying to overturn the suspension of the striker Falorin Balogun.Belgium’s prime minister, Bart De Wever, has yet to comment on the national team’s triumph, but the official Instagram account of his cat offered a sardonic, albeit indirect sign of satisfaction. Maximus, De Wever’s beloved cat, was shown lying on a rug holding a soft toy in the image of the US president. “I slept really well last night. And you?” reads the speech bubble in Dutch. Continue reading...

Red Devils beat USA to advance to World Cup last-eightTeam had been angered by suspension of red cardFor Belgium, Monday’s 4-1 victory over the United States was doubly sweet. They advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals, as well as overcoming what they saw as injustice off the field.The buildup to the match had been tinged with controversy after Fifa had suspended the red card US striker Folarin Balogun was given in the last 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That meant Balogun was free to play against Belgium instead of serving a one-match ban. When it emerged that Donald Trump had lobbied for Balogun’s red card to be overturned, Belgium – and other nations – were outraged: Uefa called the decision “incomprehensible and unjustifiable”. Continue reading...

• The 2026 World Cup continues with high-profile matchups featuring Spain against Portugal at 3 p.m. ET and the USA against Belgium at 8 p.m. ET. • Key players to watch include Spain's Lamine Yamal and Portugal's veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, with both games broadcasting on Telemundo and Peacock. • In a significant roster update, FIFA has reversed a ban against an unnamed U.S. men’s soccer star, potentially strengthening the American squad.

• Belgium secured a dramatic comeback victory over Senegal to advance to the World Cup round of 16, though the win was marred by controversy surrounding a pivotal penalty decision. • The victory sets up a high-stakes knockout tie for Belgium against either the United States or Bosnia and Herzegovina. • The match highlighted individual performances, including a goal from Diarra, who joined a list of other tournament scorers such as Brian Brobbey and Granit Xhaka.

• Belgium secured a dramatic victory over Senegal to advance in the World Cup after scoring a last-gasp penalty. • The win followed a late comeback by the Belgian squad, eliminating Senegal from the tournament. • This result is significant as it determines the bracket progression, meaning Belgium could potentially face the United States in the next round.

• Belgium and Senegal are facing off in a World Cup round of 32 clash to determine who advances to the round of 16. • Belgium entered the match after a slow start to the tournament, only finding their rhythm during a recent game against New Zealand. • Senegal arrives with strong momentum following a dominant 5-0 victory over Iraq, despite previous difficult matches against France and Norway.

• Belgium eliminated Senegal from the 2026 World Cup after scoring the latest winning goal in the tournament's history. • The victory occurred during the round-of-32 stage of the competition. • This result secures Belgium's advancement to the next round while ending Senegal's tournament run.

• Belgium and Senegal are scheduled to face each other in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Seattle. • Senegal secured their spot as one of the best third-placed teams after a dominant 5-0 victory over Iraq, following earlier losses to France and Norway. • The match is expected to be a tense encounter as both teams enter the knockout stage following inconsistent group stage performances.

• Massive flight disruptions hit Europe today, resulting in 132 cancellations and 2,348 delays across multiple countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Austria, and Spain. • Major hubs such as London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Rome Fiumicino were heavily affected, disrupting airlines like ITA Airways, Air France, and Virgin Atlantic. • The widespread chaos left thousands of passengers stranded across key cities including London, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Amsterdam.

• France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium have reached a political agreement to reform EU air passenger rights. • The landmark reform introduces free cabin bags for travelers and establishes stronger protections and easier processes for obtaining flight compensation. • This agreement matters as it aims to standardize passenger treatment across Europe and reduce the financial burden of basic luggage on travelers.

• The European Copyright Society published a paper affirming that performer equitable remuneration (ER) for streaming is a "lawful mechanism" under EU copyright law. • This position follows Belgium's recent introduction of an ER right and a corresponding legal challenge attempting to block its implementation. • The society's findings reject arguments against the right, asserting that performers are legally entitled to fair compensation from streaming services.

• Belgium played to a draw against Iran in a Group G match, leaving the Red Devils with only two points after two games. • Iran's goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand secured the result with key heroics, including a critical save from Maxim De Cuyper from four yards. • The match was heavily impacted by a red card issued to Belgium's Nathan Ngoy, forcing the team to play with fewer players.

• Belgium played to a 0-0 draw against Iran, leaving the "Red Devils" without a guaranteed spot in the next round. • The match was marked by a significant setback for Belgium when player Nathan Ngoy was sent off, forcing the team to play with ten men. • This result is critical as it pushes Belgium's World Cup fate to the final group game, where they must secure a positive result to advance.

• Belgium and Iran have announced their starting lineups for a critical Group G encounter during the 2026 World Cup. • Both teams have implemented notable tactical changes to their rosters ahead of the match. • Iran's preparations have been reportedly hindered by ongoing political restrictions.

• The 2026 World Cup is underway across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, featuring high-scoring matches and competitive draws. • Germany delivered the tournament's most dominant performance with a 7–1 victory over Curaçao, while Sweden, led by Graham Potter, defeated Tunisia 5–1. • Other key results include a 2–2 draw between the Netherlands and Japan and a narrow 1–0 win for Côte d’Ivoire against Ecuador.

• Arsenal player Leandro Trossard expressed his desire to translate his current strong form and the club's league title success into a strong performance for Belgium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. • Speaking in a cover story for Sportstar, Trossard noted that while it is difficult to determine if he is in his "best form ever," he is currently playing very well. • The player believes that winning the league title provides a positive psychological boost for Belgium's national team hopes heading into the tournament.

International money transfer service’s shares tumble as it confirms discussions with prosecutor’s officeBusiness live – latest updatesWise, the UK-based international money transfer service and darling of the London fintech scene, has confirmed it is answering questions from Belgian prosecutors investigating money laundering, sending its shares tumbling.In a statement to the stock market, Wise said it was “currently working with the Brussels prosecutor to respond to queries about our business, as we routinely do with regulators and law-enforcement authorities. Continue reading...

Two children among dead after incident at level crossing near town of Buggenhout in FlandersEurope – latest updatesAn investigation is under way after four people, including two children, were killed when a school minibus collided with a train in northern Belgium.Five children were injured in the crash at a level crossing near the small town of Buggenhout in Flanders on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Antwerp port is stepping up scanning of goods amid warnings country risks becoming a narco-stateSara Van Cotthem takes a safety knife and precisely slices open the side of a cardboard box to unpack its contents, an aluminium stepladder made in China. Working under harsh fluorescent lights at the border inspection post at the port of Antwerp, Van Cotthem checks the paperwork and taps the ladder with a magnet to check if it really is aluminium and not another metal.It is an everyday operation for customs officers at Antwerp, one of Europe’s main commercial gateways, which handled the equivalent of 13.6m 20ft-long (6 metres) containers last year. Everything is in order and the lorry, jam-packed with identical boxed ladders, can get on its way to Germany. Continue reading...