Portugal v Spain, USA v Belgium Round of 16 games, teams, players, standings

It’s taken 49 seconds, but Belgium have already but the USA on notice.

Belgium’s Timothy Castagne has a crack at goal, with US keeper Matt Freese getting a glove to it to save it from sailing into the back of the neck.

Early, aggressive attack from Belgium.

United States 0-0 Belgium, 1 minute

We have players on the pitch.

Can we hear any boos for the US team and their star striker Folarin Balogun? Not really, but it’s hard to tell if that’s because the crowd is 99 per cent American or because the commentary is muffling the sound from the stadium.

National anthems to come – anyone else feel like this day is particularly American? Like, REALLY American? We see you Lady Liberty (yes, we have a copper green fan in the crowd).

Team lists are in and it’s confirmed – striker Folarin Balogun will start for the US in their round-of-16 clash with Belgium at 10am this morning after having his red card suspended.

We expected this, but it’s still huge news.

England are weighing up a challenge to Jarell Quansah’s suspension for their World Cup quarter-final in the fallout from Folarin Balogun’s ban getting reviewed.

United States striker Balogun had a one-match ban suspended for a year after Donald Trump asked Fifa to review his red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Quansah was sent off against Mexico and the normal sanction would force him to miss Sunday’s match against Norway in Miami, but England are now considering their options and whether to ask for the red card to be reviewed.

Belgium, the US’s round of 16 opponents, were furious with Balogun being allowed to play rather than serving his ban. The Swiss Football Association has also raised concerns.

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