Trump Says He Requested FIFA Review of Red Card to Balogun

President Donald Trump stated on July 6 that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Trump said he did not demand a specific outcome from the call.

The red card came during the United States' 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 match last week in Santa Clara, California. Referee Raphael Claus issued the card after a slow-motion video review showed Balogun planting his cleated foot on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic, though the referee did not initially signal a card.

FIFA suspended the resulting one-game ban, allowing Balogun to play in the July 6 round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle.

Belgium won that match 4-1 and eliminated the United States from the tournament. Balogun is the U.S. leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals. Trump described the referee's decision as a "horrible" call and said he viewed the incident as "two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled" rather than a foul.

He said he decided to intervene after learning the red card would result in a one-game suspension and took issue with the use of slowed-down video review. Infantino stated that during the conversation he explained there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies.

He said the case would be decided by FIFA’s competent bodies and that he upholds the independence of FIFA’s judicial system.

The Belgian soccer federation challenged Balogun's eligibility for the match. " U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino applauded the decision to lift the ban, while Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said it sounded like an April Fools' Day joke.