This World Cup is now all about Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Spain’s clean sheets, Harry Kane’s Grover voice and the rest. No more arguments about eligibility. The Article 27-era lasted 30 or so hours, and is now hopefully shut down for good.
On an extraordinary Monday that saw a President, Secretary of State, Senator, and others weigh in on the affairs of FIFA, Europe’s soccer governing body cry foul, soccer insiders and pundits wonder whether the rule of soccer law had taken a back seat to the cozy relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and Americans once divide themselves into corners thanks to a decision made by their President, Belgium knocked off the United States, 4-1, in a Round of 16 affair in Seattle, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that even with Folarin Balogun in the lineup, the Americans weren’t ready to move on and make history.
On a day that started with Trump confirming that he indeed called Infantino to inquire about the review process for Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Infantino screaming into the wind that FIFA’s evocation of Article 27, which gives itself the authority to suspend disciplinary matters and thus reinstate Balogun for the Belgium game, was a completely, totally independent decision, regardless of political pressure, ended with the United States coming out of the gates inexplicably laggard, and making far too many mistakes against another European soccer stalwart all too happy to show off its supremacy, on America’s soil.
“Overturn this,” the Belgium soccer federation wrote on X, with a picture of Romelu Lukaku celebrating his late goal that not only ended all U.S. hope, but certified the contest, after all the hype and hubbub, as a blowout. Belgium’s players did the Trump dance to celebrate.
Belgium seized momentum early. In the ninth minute, American defender Alex Freeman headed a ball up in the box: a trio of U.S. players, instead of clearing it out,
