Seattle, July 6, 2026 – A last-minute decision by FIFA to lift Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match suspension has thrown the 2026 World Cup into turmoil, after it emerged that U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to push for a review of the red card.
What Happened
Balogun, the United States’ top scorer at this tournament with three goals, was sent off with a straight red card during the Americans’ 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially did not flag the incident but issued the red card after a video review, ruling that Balogun had stepped on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović.
Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, a straight red card carries an automatic one-match ban that cannot be appealed by the player’s team. That would have ruled Balogun out of the USA’s round-of-16 clash with Belgium in Seattle on July 6.
Instead, FIFA announced on Sunday, July 5, that it was suspending the ban for a one-year probationary period, clearing Balogun to face Belgium. According to multiple outlets, it is the first time since 1962 that a red card at a World Cup has not resulted in a suspension for the following match.
The Trump Connection
Sources told several news organizations, including the Associated Press and The New York Times, that Trump called Infantino directly to ask him to revisit Balogun’s punishment. According to reporting, the call took place the same week the red card was shown, and U.S. officials say the American side submitted additional video evidence during the appeal process.
FIFA did not initially offer a detailed public explanation for the reversal beyond citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which allows a judicial body to fully or partially suspend a sanction and place the player on probation instead.
Trump celebrated the outcome on his Truth Social platform, thanking FIFA for what he called correcting an injustice. U.S. Soccer said it accepted and welcomed the disciplinary committee’s decision, while USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino argued the original punishment was too severe for what he described as an unintentional foul.
Backlash From Belgium and UEFA
The decision triggered immediate anger from Belgium, the USA’s next opponent. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was astonished by the move, arguing it directly contradicted FIFA’s own disciplinary code, and said it was exploring “all potential options” to protect fair play and the rights of participating teams. Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia mocked the timing of the announcement, joking that FIFA appeared to be treating July 5 like April Fool’s Day.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, went further, stating that FIFA had crossed a line with the ruling. A European Commissioner overseeing sport also weighed in, saying decisions on sporting matters should be left to sporting bodies rather than politicians.
Reports later indicated Belgian football authorities had been granted the right to formally appeal FIFA’s decision ahead of the Seattle match.
Not Without Precedent – But Still Unprecedented
FIFA and its defenders have pointed to earlier cases where bans tied to red cards were deferred, including Cristiano Ronaldo, whose final two games of a three-match ban from a qualifier red card were suspended so he could play at the start of this World Cup. Similar deferrals reportedly applied to Argentina’s Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuador’s Moisés Caicedo earlier this year.
Critics note, however, that those cases involved qualifying-stage incidents resolved before the tournament began, whereas Balogun’s reversal came in the middle of the knockout rounds and followed direct political intervention — a combination without precedent in the tournament’s history.
The episode has also reignited broader questions about FIFA’s independence and its relationship with the Trump administration, given the closeness between Trump and Infantino, who share a history of public appearances together, including at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final.
What’s Next
Balogun is set to take the field for the USA against Belgium in Seattle, with the match now unfolding against the backdrop of one of the tournament’s biggest controversies. Whatever the result, the dispute over FIFA’s handling of the case — and the question of political influence over sporting discipline – appears likely to continue well beyond the final whistle.