For 24 days, the 2026 World Cup in America seemed like an event largely unrelated to Donald Trump. However, following the president's appeal, American bomber Folarin Balogun will play in the playoff match against Belgium on Monday, despite having been sent off in the previous game and receiving a one-match ban.
Political Interference and Reaction
President Donald Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Sunday: 'Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and overturning a great injustice! President Donald J. Trump,' celebrating his victory. This review of the situation with Balogun shocked world football and provoked new speculation about close ties between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Trump's discussion of the disqualification issue during a phone call with Infantino and FIFA's subsequent decision raised the debate about refereeing in football to the level of an international incident related to the world's most popular sporting event. This drama raises concerns about political interference and the integrity of the tournament, regardless of whether Trump's intervention was decisive.
Reaction from Football Federations
The Royal Belgian Football Association stated that preliminary maneuvers violated FIFA rules and harmed fair play. The national team coach told reporters that the federation would act not to defend national dignity, but to defend 'football as a whole. It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics.'
For many football fans outside the US, the American team's victory will carry a certain shade of doubt. Although there are strong reasons to believe that Balogun was unfairly punished for the sending-off during the team's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week, Trump's involvement in this matter raises suspicion that his reinstatement may be based on more than just fairness.
Details of the Dismissal Incident
The referee initially did not order Balogun's dismissal, but after reviewing video footage of the incident, he ruled that the player committed a serious foul. At full speed, the collision with Bosnian and Herzegovinian defender Tarik Muharemic looked harmless. However, in slow motion, it was visible how Balogun's foot caught the back of the opponent's leg, putting his ankle in a terrible position.
Many fans argued that Balogun became the last player affected by the VAR system, and that he had no intention of injuring Muharemic. Often, player collisions look much worse in slow motion. In generations before technological innovations, such collisions were not condemned. Perhaps Balogun was unlucky, but this collision can also be considered worthy of a red card according to FIFA standards.
FIFA's Decision and Criticism
After the game, FIFA clarified that the American team had no opportunity to appeal the disqualification, and Balogun would not be able to participate in the match in Seattle on Monday. This was a major blow to the Americans, as the Monaco forward is the team's top scorer. FIFA's announcement of the disqualification reversal on Sunday lacked proper explanation, intensifying criticism that the exemption was made for a US star following Trump's complaint.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee applied Article 27 of its code, which allows for the complete or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure during a probationary period. The red card remains valid, and if Balogun commits another offense, the disqualification will be reinstated, and further sanctions may be imposed. This is not the first time this rule has been used; previously, it led to accusations of favoritism towards a commercially successful player when FIFA allowed Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal to play in the preliminary rounds of the final despite a red card disqualification in a qualifying match.
Trump and Infantino Connection
It was almost inevitable that Trump would find a way to get involved in the World Cup, which he compared to several simultaneous Super Bowls and which creates a global focus he cannot resist. However, in the early games, he took a backseat, focusing more on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—an event in which, critics say, he also interfered excessively.
But the Balogun incident likely proved too significant for Trump to resist. He is a devoted and informed sports fan who often uses the arena of sport to promote his political and cultural themes or as a platform to demonstrate his own power. Earlier this year, Trump highlighted the triumph of the US men's hockey team over Canada at the Winter Olympics as proof that America 'is winning again' under his leadership, adding a partisan tone to a moment of national unity.
Trump's political career demonstrates that he hardly considers rules obstacles; the fact of victory is what matters. A source familiar with the case told CNN on Sunday that Trump spoke with Infantino after Balogun's dismissal and asked him to reconsider the decision. Both have some friendly connection, and the support of the FIFA chief often seemed like direct political backing for the highly controversial president.
Consequences for the Tournament
Infantino often supports Trump. He even attended the Gaza peace summit in Egypt last year. After Trump's rally during his second term, Infantino stated on Instagram: 'Together we will make not only America great again, but the whole world.' The FIFA chief has long been subject to political scrutiny. He had to answer for alleged human rights violations during the construction of stadiums for the World Cup in Qatar before the last tournament, as well as for the decision to award the 2034 final to authoritarian Saudi Arabia. Critics of Infantino were even more perplexed when he presented Trump with the initial FIFA Peace Prize after the US president failed to win the Nobel Prize.
Nevertheless, Infantino claims that it is extremely important for the FIFA chief to maintain warm relations with the head of the host country. This closeness to FIFA is particularly noteworthy because the US government, including the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the IRS, played a key role in exposing the largest FIFA corruption scandal in 2015.
The intrigue surrounding the friendship between Trump and Infantino means that the Balogun drama will continue. A precedent has now been set: who can say that other influential world leaders will not try to gain political advantage by pressuring FIFA over an on-field incident? Any disputed collision in the remainder of the World Cup will now be under intense scrutiny. If FIFA used its vague powers to overturn Balogun's ban, shouldn't it do the same for any player from any other nation?
Balogun's status was not the only big news of the World Cup on Sunday, when Brazil was eliminated from the tournament thanks to two goals from Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. However, the excitement generated by the story of Trump and the leading American scorer raised the ominous specter that events off and on the field could change the fate of the golden trophy the president is due to present in two weeks. This is disappointing for a tournament that previously served as a pleasant distraction from America's divided politics.
