World Cup 2026: France reach semifinals; Quansah banned two matches

sportsJul 10, 202625460

France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the World Cup semi-finals, with captain Kylian Mbappé urging caution about expectations after the quarter-final win. Separately, FIFA has banned England defender Jarell Quansah for two matches for a reckless sliding challenge that, after a VAR review, saw his studs enter the shin of Mexico’s Jesús Gallardo. FIFA found Quansah in breach of Article 14 for serious foul play, meaning he will miss Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway and a possible semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland; he could only return for the final if England reach it. England said they would “consider all options” on an appeal but have not confirmed filing one; tournament regulations and precedent around VAR and discipline have been the focus of wider criticism. The decision follows controversy over FIFA suspending the one-match ban for USA striker Folarin Balogun after intervention from US president Donald Trump, a move that prompted accusations of inconsistency and political influence and intensified scrutiny of Gianni Infantino and FIFA’s disciplinary processes.

BladeoftheSun

@bladeofthes.bsky.social

FIFA has banned England's Jarell Quansah for two games. Meaning he will only be able to play in the Final if England get there. The US striker didn't even get a one match ban for a worse offence. #TwoTierWorldCup

13217h ago

RuelFox9

In no universe has Balogun’s offence worse than Quansah’s. Not even close.

Lord Knows4

The difference is that the team takes it and moves on in the tournament. The enquiry can come after and this World Cup has undoubtedly been tainted by corruption on a large scale.

Orcaholic 🐳🐬🌿🐈‍⬛🇵🇸🇺🇦💙🇬🇱🇩🇰⚾️4

Is this when the King calls FIFA and “suggests” they review this decision?

Fat Freddie's Cat2

He did, but the Orange Pig had it dropped

sjhutton99.bsky.social2

Two games seems a bit harsh, but he did go in cleats up so....

James Steel2

Yes funny that, one rule for the Americans one rule for the rest of us. Thank fuck they were so rubbish and got totally humiliated by Belgium.

Annie Parker

@annieparker.bsky.social

Dear Team USA, this is how to accept a red card. “But the decision's been made - we won't waste any more energy on it.” www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

5512h ago

almightytallest.bsky.social1

Absolutely. It sucks, and I'm not happy to see it, but I'm not gonna bitch about how it should be reversed. Sometimes the decisions go your way, sometimes they don't. That's football.

sparta47.bsky.social1

If we could just give Trump a red card! I am starting to like soccer because of the red card! Take the card and go to the lockers!

stabilo

@stabiloffc.bsky.social

5 of the top 8 ranked teams in the world have reached the quarter finals of the World Cup. The three teams that didn't are all managed by ex-Everton managers.

363h ago

Chris - drummer1

Surely on the odds of statistical probability ALL the teams must have managers that were once managers of Forest?!? 😆

Badger50001

This is a magnificent fact

Quoting this

waltydunlop2

That... is a quite remarkable fact.

Luke Plunkett

@lukeplunkett.com

englands world cup isn't going to live or die on the availability of jarell quansah, but still. this balogun thing is going to haunt fifa, and football, for decades. it becomes more rotten with every decision and ban that comes in its wake.

5014h ago

Luke Plunkett38

its perfect that it involved trump, because its so trumpian in nature: not just corrupt, but proudly so, stupid and indefensible in ways you cant believe because theyre so stupid and indefensible

David Ornstein

@david-ornstein.bsky.social

🚨 FA made strong representation to FIFA that VAR process wrongly followed on Quansah red card. Cited referee viewing still image 1st when should be real time replay. Request for mitigation not accepted. Rules state two-game ban + no appeal 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/742...

4017h ago

mji29.bsky.social15

Makes the USA suspended one match ban look even worse.

Frasinho73047

What’s worse is the people still bothering to watch this corrupt nonsense. Turn it off, read a book, listen to music. All the while u pay it attention you are kneeling to their corruption.

bd1969.bsky.social6

Get King Charlie on the blower.

Shooting Stars3

Get Count Binface to call up Infantino

SciGuy171

We already know Argentina will be handed the cup. Why does anyone care about rest of these matches?

duffmid.bsky.social1

Should be additional punishment for having the gall to appeal a disgusting tackle like that

Quoting this

Murshed Zaheed8

Guess Starmer didn't make the call. #WorldCup

Bassman7

Just from an optics perspective FIFA would've saved some face if they'd just done the same. Being so blatant that it's a trump favour is just doubling down

Ｒ. Ｊ. ＭＡＣＲＥＡＤＹ3

When the application of the rules at the highest level—and most public stage—are so clearly bent to meet the political machinations of FIFA's president, what cause for confidence does anyone have in the integrity of the game at any tier below it?

Caio Bitencourt3

Faltou consultar o Rei Charles

Shane2

Let’s not drag ourselves down to their level. It was a red all day long and he’ll not be missed anyway. Save the complaining in case we need it for someone important.

Alwayne752

Should have just said we didn’t know what a red card was and we want our best player on the pitch.

The National

@scotnational.bsky.social

The USA’s exit from the World Cup is not, and cannot be, the end of this sorry story. The Balogun case exposes a malignant and growing tumour in world football. We have long known that Fifa is corrupt, writes Mark Brown ✍️

243h ago

Jo Wolff

@jowolff.bsky.social

Fuel for FIFA conspiracy theorists. I couldn’t possibly comment. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

1717h ago

Alex Sutherland5

"One rule for thee, one rule for me"

Stuck In Green Acres1

Just ask Donald Trump to make a phone csll for you.

Quoting this

Jo Wolff10

Just realised that the extra game suspension would take effect in the game against Argentina if both sides get through this round.

Anthony Painter5

It was a reckless challenge: to do something like that whilst not playing for the USA. Deserved.

phantasmAgaric 🍄

@lalonde.bsky.social

really funny that fifa won't let spain play anything except habsburg derbies this world cup

spain's last three fixtures (spain, austria, and urguay) and upcoming quarter-final (belgium) are all former habsburg countries

161h ago

phantasmAgaric 🍄4

even their opening game against cape verde counts lol

Badvertising

@badvertising.bsky.social

🚨 NEW REPORT: FIFA's biggest climate impact isn't flights or stadiums. It's promoting polluters. Our new briefing finds FIFA's deal with Aramco alone is estimated to induce 34.7 million tonnes of CO₂e – almost 4x the emissions of the entire World Cup. www.cooldownclimate.org/latest/the-w...

72h ago

NBC Bay Area

@nbcbayarea.com

After FIFA put Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension on hold, other teams looked for similar treatment. But England’s Jarell Quansah has now been given a two-match ban, while France’s request to wipe away Michael Olise’s yellow card was denied. nbcbay.com/aj70CtS

715h ago

Missing The Point

@missingthept.bsky.social

This World Cup has already proven to be so successful they should plan on doing another one.

102h ago

VTuber NewsDrop 💧

@vtubernewsdrop.com

Now that "Essie's Curse" has been broken after France won its FIFA World Cup 2026™ quarter-final match against Morocco, let's run through the milestones of this hilarious fan moment. [🔗 in 💬]

72h ago

Aston Villa Statto

@avfcstatto.bsky.social

Good luck to Youri Tielemans today as Belgium take on Spain in the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Los Angeles❗ #AVFC

92h ago

Bodleian Libraries

@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Rather a lot has changed since the 1863 edition! Today, the Laws of the Game run to hundreds of pages, and the 2026 World Cup includes new measures covering expanded VAR reviews, anti-timewasting rules, and other disciplinary offences. What rule would you introduce? #ComeOnEngland!

A two-page open book "The Rules of Association Football 1863"
displaying handwritten text on the left page and printed text on the right. The left page features a slanted cursive passage in English. The right page contains printed text discussing a rule about fair catches and free kicks in a game, allowing a player to take a kick where desired with specific conditions. Page number 49 is at the bottom of the right page.

63h ago

Rahel Freiburghaus

@rfrbrghs.bsky.social

Sorry to disappoint all the new Switzerland fans who have discovered Murat Yakin only recently. The @nytimes.com NYT has been praising his charm and impeccable sense of style since at least the 2022 World Cup! But thank you for the support, we can’t wait for the quarter-final against Argentina! 🇨🇭

61h ago

3 sources

independent.co.ukJarell Quansah banned for two World Cup matches by Fifa after red card against Mexico news-area.comThe 2026 FIFA World Cup Becomes The Most Memed World Cup Yet sgr.org.ukFIFA’s Climate Blind Spot: The Men’s World Cup in a Warming World

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World Cup 2026: France reach semifinals; Quansah banned two matches

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