President Donald Trump admitted Monday he personally called FIFA’s top official to challenge a red card penalty against U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun — a direct intervention that prompted the international body to overturn the suspension hours before a critical World Cup knockout match.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding he “didn’t know what the hell a red card was” when he made the call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The 25-year-old striker had been ejected from the U.S. team’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week and faced a mandatory one-game ban for Monday night’s match against Belgium in Seattle. FIFA suspended that ban Sunday, allowing Balogun to play.
Trump Says He Didn’t Direct the Outcome
The president insisted he only requested a review, not a specific result. “I didn’t tell him what to do. I can’t tell him what to do,” Trump said of Infantino. “And I don’t believe he made the decision.”
Trump made the comments during an Oval Office event promoting Trump Accounts, a new investment vehicle for children. He suggested the match would have been tainted had Balogun remained sidelined: “This game would have a big mark on it,” he said, though his full statement was cut off in the source material.
Unprecedented Presidential Involvement in Sports Officiating
The direct presidential call to FIFA represents an unusual mixing of political power and international sports governance. FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, has historically maintained independence from national governments in matters of game officiating and player discipline.
The reversal came with remarkable speed — less than 24 hours before kickoff of a World Cup elimination match. Red card suspensions are typically upheld unless clear officiating errors are documented through formal review channels.
The U.S. faces Belgium Monday night with its full roster intact. Whether Balogun’s presence proves decisive remains to be seen, but Trump’s intervention ensures American fans won’t watch their striker sit out due to what the president called a questionable call.
Key Points
- Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to challenge Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension
- FIFA reversed the one-game ban Sunday, allowing the striker to play Monday against Belgium
- The president claimed he only requested a review and didn’t direct the outcome
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/06/trump-balogun-fifa-world-cup-us-belgium.html – July 06, 2026
