Story perspectives

Belgium Stuns US 4-1; 40 M Watch, Trump Calls FIFA

7/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16, drawing 30 million viewers.
Peak audience reached 36.9 million, surpassing the 26.4 million record from July 1, with total U.S. viewership, including Spanish broadcast, exceeding 40 million.
President Donald Trump said he called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino after FIFA waived striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension following a legal threat.
The United States loss, along with defeats for Canada and Mexico, ended co-host participation.

History

Historical Context

The United States won its opening match at the 1994 World Cup—hosted after a July 4, 1988 vote—and the tournament set a record attendance of 3,587,538, establishing soccer’s broad TV appeal in America. Four decades later, Belgium’s 2024 round-of-16 victory over the U.S. revived that same high-profile media exposure, prompting renewed scrutiny of FIFA’s governance.

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Story summary

Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16, drawing 30 million viewers.
Peak audience reached 36.9 million, surpassing the 26.4 million record from July 1, with total U.S. viewership, including Spanish broadcast, exceeding 40 million.
President Donald Trump said he called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino after FIFA waived striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension following a legal threat.
The United States loss, along with defeats for Canada and Mexico, ended co-host participation.

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