What happened
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday, July 6, 2026, that he personally requested FIFA to review the one-match suspension imposed on United States striker Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Balogun, 25, had received a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic and was set to miss the last-16 tie against Belgium.
In a controversial move, FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, allowing Balogun to play in the upcoming match in Seattle. This decision has drawn widespread criticism from major football organizations, including UEFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), as well as England manager Thomas Tuchel. The RBFA expressed its astonishment and formally contested Balogun's eligibility after its appeal against the decision was dismissed.
Speaking at the White House, Trump defended his actions, stating he asked for the review because he "didn't think it was a foul" and believed the suspension would have left a "big stain" on the tournament. He confirmed speaking with FIFA president Gianni Infantino but insisted he only asked for a review, not for the ban to be suspended, attributing the final decision to a FIFA commission. However, UEFA countered, asserting that FIFA's decision "left the integrity of football at stake," highlighting concerns over political interference in sporting decisions.