The Telegraph wrote: “So far it has been a great tournament with packed stadiums, excellent football and several upsets… But this scandal threatens to tarnish what might otherwise have been a signal success for America.”
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The publication called for Infantino’s resignation.
FIFA dismissed an appeal from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) regarding Balogun’s eligibility, stating the RBFA was not a party to the proceedings and had no standing to appeal.
The RBFA expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting it had still not received grounds for the decision.
Infantino defended the process, saying he spoke with Trump but that independent bodies handled the case.
“That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold,” he said.
Ronaldo Confirms Final World Cup
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, confirmed that the 2026 tournament would be his last World Cup appearance.
“I want to enjoy it as much as possible, because it will be my last World Cup, yes,” he said.
He dismissed questions about permanent retirement, adding: “I’ll retire when I want to, not when you want me to.”
Portugal faced Spain in the round of 16, with the match scoreless at halftime.
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Meanwhile, England midfielder Jordan Henderson was ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to a forearm injury requiring surgery.
