The UNO Reverse felt around the world

The GIST: Every minute brings us closer to tonight’s USMNT Round of 16 tilt against Belgium at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Can the Stars and Stripes vanquish the Red Devils, or will history repeat itself? So nervous and so ready at the same time.

🤯 In a shocking move, FIFA will allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite the red card — and associated one-game ban — he earned in last week’s 2–0 Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Reactions are predictably mixed: Many agreed that Balogun’s red card was the wrong call, but FIFA invoking the now-infamous article 27 has led to a lot of questions.

• The Belgium Football Association was understandably frustrated, as they have almost no time to adjust their tactics before tonight — not to mention the alleged presidential interference. Controversial is an understatement.

⚽ Politcal maneuvers aside, the USMNT is about to face their toughest opponent so far. This Belgium squad is not as sensational as the team that eliminated the U.S. in 2014, but they still have remnants of their golden generation, namely midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and forward Romelu Lukaku.

• On top of their goal-scoring pedigree, Belgium showed they are never truly out of a game in their Round of 32 win over Senegal, where they pulled off an astonishing comeback capped off by the latest goal in WC history. Cheeky little devils.

🌶️ However you feel about it, the Balogun decision adds a new level of spice to this game. If the USMNT wants to make the quarter-finals for the third time ever, they need to come out on the front foot. Early goals have been a hallmark of the Yanks’ success this WC, and our midfield has the speed and prowess to exploit a lackluster Belgian defense. LFG.

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The GIST: And just like that, the Round of 16 is nearly over. Here are the highlights from the long weekend, plus a look at the final three games before the quarter-finals (QF) begin on Thursday.

🫁 It was no oxygen, no problem for England in their stunning, hard-fought 3–2 win over Mexico last night thanks to midfielder Jude Bellingham’s two goals in less than 100 seconds. Prior to this game, Mexico hadn’t conceded a goal all tournament and had never lost a WC game at the Azteca. An instant classic.

👻 Norwegian striker Erling Haaland also scored twice in a massive upset to send Brazil packing in the Vikings’ 2–1 victory yesterday. Snapchat is about to go off.

📅 On Saturday, three second-half goals pushed Morocco past co-hosts Canada to set up a QF date with France, who held on 1–0 to survive an ugly game against Paraguay. Revenge match, loading.

📺 Don’t touch that remote — the QFs will be set after the following games. Here’s a quick primer:

• 🇵🇹 Portugal vs. 🇪🇸 Spain — Today at 3 p.m. ET: If Portugal loses to WC favorite Spain, this will be superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s last WC match ever, inking his name on the long list of football greats who never won the game’s greatest prize.

• 🇦🇷 Argentina vs. 🇪🇬 Egypt — Tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET: Lionel Messi’s Argentinian squad has never looked more vulnerable after their narrow win over Cabo Verde — perhaps confident Egypt will be the African squad to take down the defending champs.

• 🇨🇭 Switzerland vs. 🇨🇴 Colombia — Tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET: Undefeated Colombia’s defense has only conceded one goal the entire tourney, but the Swiss have holes in their cheese a fire in their belly after their first WC knockout win in 88 years.

🏀 Mark your cal for must-watch summer hoops. As the Golden State Valkyries’ first founding partner, Chase is invested in the momentum of women’s sports and wants you to be part of the movement, too.

• 🍁 This Wednesday, the Valkyries head north to Toronto for their first-ever matchup against the league’s newest kids on the block. Tune in at 7 p.m. ET to see if Toronto has what it takes against one of women’s sports' greatest expansion team success stories.