Overview of Totally at the World Cup — England win thriller in Mexico + FIFA’s Balogun controversy
This episode of The Athletic’s World Cup roundup covers a wild Day 25 of the tournament: England’s extraordinary 3-2 win over Mexico in the final match at the Azteca, Norway’s shock elimination of Brazil behind an Erling Haaland brace, and the growing political fallout after FIFA overturned Folarin Balogun’s suspension for the USA’s upcoming last-16 match against Belgium. The hosts and guests frame the day as one of the most dramatic — and most controversial — of the World Cup so far.
England 3-2 Mexico: a classic at the Azteca
Why the match stood out
- England produced a memorable comeback-style performance in an intense, high-stakes setting.
- The game was played in a hostile, electric Azteca atmosphere, with altitude and crowd noise adding to the drama.
- Mexico fell short of ending their long quarterfinal drought, while England continued their own “curse-breaking” World Cup narrative.
Key moments and takeaways
- Jude Bellingham was the standout: widely praised as the game’s difference-maker and a “big-game player.”
- He scored twice early and was described as carrying England through a period when Mexico had the upper hand.
- England showed resilience after adversity:
- They went down to 10 men after a red card to Jarell Quansah.
- Despite that, they still found a way to win and never trailed.
- Jordan Pickford earned major credit for timely saves and calm defending under pressure.
- Dan Burn was highlighted as an unlikely hero off the bench, especially for dominating aerial duels late in the match.
- The match was described as a potential all-time World Cup classic.
Mexico’s frustration
- Mexico had a strong tournament atmosphere at home, but in this match they:
- Failed to capitalize on the man advantage.
- Repeated predictable crossing patterns into an England defense built to handle them.
- Felipe and the others felt Mexico looked like a limited side in their biggest moment.
FIFA and the Balogun controversy
What happened
- FIFA reversed its earlier stance and annulled Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension, making him available for the USA’s last-16 clash with Belgium.
- The reversal reportedly followed pressure from the White House / President Donald Trump, which the hosts treated as a major breach of sporting independence.
Why it matters
- The discussion framed this as a political intervention in football, with historical parallels drawn to:
- Italy in the 1930s
- Argentina in 1978
- The hosts argued this could taint the tournament’s legacy, even if the US team itself did nothing wrong.
- They stressed that FIFA had previously said the suspension was not appealable, making the reversal look especially suspect.
Broader reaction
- In the US, the Balogun situation had become a major talking point across media and politics.
- Commentary suggested this now creates a cloud over any future US success:
- If the USA benefit from a call, people may question whether politics influenced it.
- Mauricio Pochettino defended the decision publicly, saying it aligned with sporting ethics and integrity, but the hosts strongly disagreed with the optics.
Norway 2-1 Brazil: Haaland knocks out the giants
The shock result
- Norway beat Brazil 2-1, sending the five-time champions out in one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
- Erling Haaland scored both goals, continuing his extraordinary scoring run for Norway.
What impressed the panel
- Norway were praised for their collective strength, discipline, and control.
- Martin Ødegaard was singled out for dictating the game as a true No. 10 and leader.
- Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland also received major credit for key saves.
- Tactical praise went to Norway’s coach for making smart halftime changes that helped swing the match.
Brazil’s problems
- The panel described Brazil’s exit as embarrassing and un-Brazilian.
- They struggled with:
- Possession
- Creativity
- Finishing chances
- Neymar’s role was heavily debated:
- He scored a late penalty, but it was seen as too little too late.
- His emotional, trash-talking exit after the final whistle was noted as a strange final image.
- The broader critique was that Brazil remain stuck between identities:
- trying to play the traditional Brazilian way
- while also leaning into European pragmatism
What’s next: Spain vs Portugal and USA vs Belgium
Portugal vs Spain
- The Iberian derby is highlighted as a major matchup.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed this will be his final World Cup.
- Lamine Yamal is framed as one of the tournament’s most exciting young stars.
- Spain are viewed as slightly better positioned, but Portugal’s confidence after beating Croatia makes this a real heavyweight clash.
USA vs Belgium
- This now carries even more intrigue because of the Balogun decision.
- Belgium are remembered for beating the USA 5-2 in a recent friendly, though the hosts noted that friendlies can be misleading.
- The match is positioned as one of the tournament’s most must-watch games, both for footballing and political reasons.
Main takeaways
- England’s win over Mexico was the day’s footballing masterpiece, driven by Jude Bellingham and a determined team performance.
- The Balogun reversal is the episode’s biggest controversy, with the hosts arguing it sets a dangerous precedent for political interference in sport.
- Norway’s victory over Brazil was a major shock, and Haaland is now one of the World Cup’s defining stars.
- The next round promises huge drama, especially Portugal-Spain and USA-Belgium.