World Cup 2026 LIVE: Egypt demand investigation after accusing Fifa of ‘fix’ following Messi-inspired Argentina comeback

6. Norway 🇳🇴 ⬆️

Norway hadn’t been at a World Cup in 28 years before making their return to the global stage in North America – they now look like they’re here to stay.

Haaland scored both in the 2-0 win in New Jersey (because of course he did) to propel himself among Messi and Mbappe in the golden boot race, and now stares down the barrel of a last-eight meeting with the Three Lions – unfortunately for Tuchel, Haaland has a knack for scoring against English defences.

Argentina take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the World Cup but which team will progress?

Have your say with our score predictor below:

7. Belgium 🇧🇪 ⬆️

While Belgium are not what they used to be after seeing their golden generation pass them by, Rudi Garcia’s team clearly had extra fire in their belly courtesy of the controversy as they dismantled the dismal hosts in a 4-1 win. “Overturn this,” posted Belgium on their official social media accounts.

They beat the odds stacked against them by Mr Trump, but can they do it again by overcoming one of the tournament favourites in Spain next up? We think that’s a long shot.

8. Switzerland🇨🇭⬆️

You can’t really be classed as getting the wooden spoon as a World Cup quarter-finalist but if it has to be given out, Switzerland are the receivers as the victor of the most uneventful last-16 tie by a country mile.

The Swiss are into the quarter-finals after edging Colombia on penalties, following a goalless draw. The first time they’ve reached the last-eight in 72 years, Switzerland have finally broken their last-16 curse – they’d exited the competition five times just before the quarters since that 1954 run.

They’re charged with eliminating holders Argentina in the next round – safe to say they’ll have the whole of Egypt rooting for them, too.

Or, as they say here, prime-time TV. This was box office. Any director would have loved all of this, right up to the unique soundtrack of the Argentina fans.

There have been so many similar moments at this World Cup, where the drama has been sensational and driven all emotions to extremes. Just look at how Messi and his manager were in tears.

Dozens of European lawmakers are gathering support to launch an investigation in the European Parliament of FIFA boss Gianni Infantino over his involvement in the decision to permit U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite an earlier red card.

Balogun was shown a red card during the U.S. victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, which normally would make him ineligible to play in team’s next game, but FIFA lifted his suspension for a match on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened with Infantino on behalf of the 25-year-old striker.

European Parliament lawmakers Barry Andrews, Lara Wolters and Niels Fuglsang said in a joint statement that FIFAs decision to “change the rule on red card suspensions mid-tournament is a disgrace and a perversion of justice.”“Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement said.

The United States forward was handed a reprieve by Fifa after President Donald Trump intervened and encouraged Fifa President Gianni Infantino to review the one-game suspension after a sending off against Bosnia.

The USMNT eventually lost 4-1 to Belgium, with Henry claiming that Trump’s intervention and Fifa’s decision inspired the international team where he previously held a role as assistant coach.

And Henry explained his stance clearly once again, telling anchor Rebecca Lowe: “What I said, I don’t think people understood, when I raised Article 27, that was sarcasm, I thought people would understand that, but they didn’t, so I’ll say it again, I do agree with the fact that it wasn’t a red, because if I was a player I wouldn’t have accepted that, I don’t agree with how they rescinded the red. What Fifa did wasn’t right, it was the right thing in terms of not giving the red. It should have been a decision on the field, not after three or four days, I didn’t agree with that at all.”

Fifa will begin talks over broadcasting rights for the next World Cup in the next three months, reports CNBC.

Netflix, Disney and YouTube are interested in the US TV rights packages.

The total cost could reach $2bn. And the rights in English and Spanish could be combined.

Russia moved closer Tuesday toward having a full team with its national flag and anthem at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted a suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and advised Olympic sports bodies to end a three-year program where Russian athletes had to be vetted for permission to compete as neutrals.

The IOC said the timing was because qualifying events are starting for the L.A. games, and “the need to offer equal access to these competitions to all athletes.”

The move, which also signals a return for Russia in team sports, was expected since the IOC advised two months ago that athletes from Belarus, which was Russia’s ally when its military invasion of Ukraine started in 2022, should be allowed again to compete with their full national identity.

“We don’t want to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their governments,” IOC president Kirsty Coventry said at an online news conference after she chaired an executive board meeting.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist swimming for Zimbabwe, Coventry said it was a fair decision and noted: “I wouldn’t be sitting here if I had to pay the price when my country was going through things and being sanctioned.”

And attention will turn to Fifa and Uefa, and whether their bans on Russia will remain, should the IOC soften its stance or lift the ban on the Russian flag and anthem.