What we’re watching - Coaching corner on the World Cup
Five2Follow - today’s developing stories
3 July 2026; Michael Duffy of Derry City in action against Hayden Cann of Waterford during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Waterford at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Romelu Lukaku wins the World Cup back for the world with his Donald Trump dance in Seattle
Cathal Dervan, Editor
Romelu Lukaku is the new man of the moment as far as the 2026 FIFA World Cup is concerned, one of the stars of the Belgian outfit who took on Team USA, two Presidents and absolute corruption and celebrated winning their battle with a urine taking dance!
18 June 2016; Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group E match between Belgium and Republic of Ireland at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Photo by Sportsfile.
As more than one headline has stated on Tuesday morning, the United States team managed by Mauricio Pochettino didn’t even turn up for their last 16 clash against the Belgians in Seattle. They didn’t even raise a whimper in their 4-1 defeat.
And how could they? Thanks to the controversy fuelled by Presidents Trump and Infantino, this American team were on a hiding to nothing at the Lumen Field Stadium.
And that’s all on President Trump who has now confirmed that he personally decided that the red card awarded to Folarin Balogun against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round was suspicious.
Trump suggested to the most hated man in football that FIFA might look at the red card and overturn it, even calling the character of the Brazilian referee and his background into question.
It was one of the most grotesque interventions by a political force in the history of football - even if our own Kenny Cunningham thinks the card was unjustified.
FIFA rules don’t allow for any political interference in football. National associations have been banned over such matters in the recent past. So the FIFA President should have ignored the call from the White House. Instead he sent a committee to work to review it all - and sure enough, they did what the US President wanted and suspended the suspension for a year so Balogun could play against Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals.
They might as well have held that committee meeting in the Oval Office. Just as they freed Ronaldo to play in this World Cup, after his red card in Dublin late last year, so they bent the rules to suit their hosts. Appalling behaviour but why are we surprised?
FIFA bows to their President and their President bows to men like Trump and Putin. That’s why the Belgian appeal against this decision was dismissed, why England are wasting their time even considering such an appeal against Jarrel Quansah’s dismissal against Mexico ahead of the Norway game on Saturday.
FIVE2FOLLOW
Stop The Game not move the game…
Eager for Maltese progress
There’s money in Europe
Trumped by Belgian celebrations
Bye bye Ronnie and Robbie
That’s also why Belgium’s win and Lukaku’s celebrations at the end of the game are so special. The veteran substitute scored the fourth and final goal of an emphatic win some three minutes into added time.
When the final whistle blew soon afterwards, Lukaku led his team-mates in a dance borrowed straight from a Trump meme on social media, a dance that was hilarious and so significant in its messaging.
Belgium won the game for those who still uphold sporting values. Lukaku celebrated with a dance that mocked the sinners in this story. It was a victory for football and a dance for justice.
No noise, just the news & views that matters. The Sports Hacks is a reader supported publication - if you like what you read, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber and sharing our work.
Renowned coach and coach educator Larry Mahony joins us for his regular chat and discusses the Cape Verde heroics, Morcco v France and Messi’s World Cup impact catch up with Larry at www.bigpicturecoachingIreland.com.
or listen to the full episode on our Spotify channel
Check our socials (X here or insta here) to get the latest from the World Cup giraffes!
The key stories developing today
Back home in Dublin after a whirlwind World Cup, Pico Lopes has called on the Irish football community to ‘Stop The Game’ at the FAI EGM on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming Nations League ‘home’ game against Israel at a neutral venue in Serbia.
Speaking to the Irish Sun’s Neil O’Riordan, Lopes urged voting members to reject a motion supporting the staging of the game. He told SunSport: “My decision hasn’t changed, the game for me has to be stopped, it shouldn’t be played. I know they were talking about neutral venues, it’s not really solving the problem, it’s just moving it..
“So I think hopefully the EGM goes the right way, some things are bigger than football and this is definitely one of them. My stance hasn’t changed, the game shouldn’t be played and hopefully the right decision will come out of it.”
Shamrock Rovers begin their latest European adventure in Malta on Tuesday evening when they face Floriana in the first round first leg of the Champions League with manager Stephen Bradley looking for his side to make a real impact in Europe this season.
He told RTE Sport: “For European football, we know what it means to all clubs around Europe, not just us - it’s important both on and off the pitch. It shows progress. I said the first time we did the group stage, if we’re sitting here after another 10 years and hadn’t qualified [for group stages again], it’s a big failure.”
League of Ireland clubs will chase millions in lucrative prize money when they kick off their European campaigns this week across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers are first up away to Floriana of Malta on Tuesday evening and Mark McCadden of the Irish Mirror examines how much each club can potentially earn - Rovers have accrued €15million over the past four years.
Belgium triumphed over the USA and Presidential interference with a 4-1 thumping of the USA in their round of 16 game in Seattle on Monday night - then mocked Donald Trump.
Daniel McDonnell of the Irish Independent was on hand to witness the Belgian players do the President Trump dance as they celebrated their progression in a game marred by the lifting of a suspension for Americans striker Folarin Balogun after a direct request from Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Ronaldo exited the World Cup for the final time and Roberto Martinez exited the Portugal manager’s job as his side were pipped at the post by a last minute Spanish goal in Dallas.
BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton, the former Celtic striker, had little sympathy for either as Spain progressed to the quarter-finals. “He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out.
“Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”
