BBC News Briefing

7 July, 2026

Sofia has long brown hair and brown eyes and is wearing a green top.

Sofia Lotto Persio

Hello. World Cup co-hosts USA have crashed out of the tournament after a match overshadowed by controversy. My colleagues investigate Russia's secretive "torture prisons" in occupied Ukraine. And finally, see how divorcees are reinventing their engagement rings.

TOP OF THE AGENDA

Did red card saga play a part in defeat?

Balogun holds his head in his hand while on the pitch. He is wearing a blue team USA jersey

Folarin Balogun's participation in the last-16 tie against Belgium dominated the build-up to the match. Credit: Getty Images

After a whirlwind couple of days, the USA are the last of the World Cup co-hosts to be eliminated after failing to qualify for the quarter-finals. Their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Belgium is the team's worst loss since 1990. Anticipation for the match had built in the hours after a controversial Fifa decision to suspend US star striker Balogun's red card from the previous game, following President Donald Trump's intervention to review the ban. Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a "sense of injustice" after Trump's move, which ultimately fired them up. Captain Youri Tielemans insisted it had boosted his side. So just how much did the saga impact team USA - and where did it all go wrong?

Read the analysis

Watch: Football fans in the US react to Fifa's decision to suspend Balogun's one-match ban after Trump weighed in.

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Gianni Infantino: We explain why, despite mounting controversies, Fifa's president remains popular.

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS

Ronaldo's tears: The 41-year-old was visibly emotional after what might have been his last game with Portugal ended in defeat against Spain.

Racist posts: France's captain Kylian Mbappe has condemned a Paraguayan senator's remarks mocking his origin.

Sign up: Follow the action on and off the pitch with our Football Extra newsletter, delivered to your inbox daily during the tournament.

WORLD HEADLINES

Graham Platner looks to his side while standing in front of a lectern and a microphone. He is wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, showing tattoos on his left arm.

Maine senate candidate under pressure to drop out

A woman who previously dated Democrat candidate Graham Platner has accused him of sexual assault, which he denies.

What to know >

Yang Youlin appeared in court wearing a dark jacket standing between two uniformed police officers

China sentences official to death over $325m bribes

Yang Youlin exploited his roles in Nanjing city to help others secure engineering contracts and financing, state media said.

What happened >

Marine Le Pen's political future at stake

The French court's decision will determine if the National Rally leader can stand in the next presidential election.

Get the latest >

Erika Kirk wears dark sunglasses and a white shirt.

Erika Kirk comes face-to-face with alleged killer

Prosecutors laid out their evidence against Tyler Robinson, who is charged with her husband Charlie Kirk's murder.

Read more >

This Morning TV's soap expert Sharon Marshall sits in the sunshine. She is smiling at the camera and is wearing a bright blue blouse.

Women hit fertility tipping point at 49

New research suggests older women face a lower chance of getting pregnant, even when using young donor eggs.

More details >

NEWS FROM THE UK

Agent X: A secret inquiry by MI5's watchdog concluded the security service knew one of its informants was a misogynist "obsessed" with violence.

Prince Harry: The Duke of Sussex's five-day visit to the UK coincides with the result of a court battle against a newspaper publisher.

Lauren Bennett: The British singer, one of the voices on LMFAO's 2011 hit song Party Rock Anthem, has died aged 37.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

Russia's 'torture prisons' exposed by BBC