Trump Says He Called FIFA President Over Red Card Against US Striker

The U.S. starting lineup for Monday night’s game against Belgium is yet to be announced.

President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington, DC. Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Donald Trump said he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino after U.S. men’s national soccer team star striker Folarin Balogun was issued a red card and a one game suspension during the July 1 World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say ‘you have to do this,’” Trump told reporters during a White House event Monday morning.

A FIFA committee, not Infantino, reviewed the referee’s decision and overturned it, making Balogun eligible to play in the round of 16 match against Belgium Monday night in Seattle, Trump said.

The president added that he had “nothing to do with the decision.”

“I didn’t think it was a foul,” he said. “It was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled.”

The United States still won 2–0 playing a man down for the last 26 minutes plus stoppage time. The red card decision, initially prohibiting Balogun from playing in the next match, was highly controversial, resulting in public criticism from U.S. players and coaches and social media outrage from fans.

Balogun scored the first goal for the United States in the match and also netted two goals in the first group play match against Paraguay.

On July 5, FIFA announced that Balogun doesn’t have to serve the one-game suspension and that it has a year to decide which game Balogun must sit out.

Traditionally, a referee’s decision is accepted without question and the red-carded player sits out the next game without appealing.

However, the world soccer governing body cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which states its authority to suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure and subject the sanctioned player “to a probationary period of one to four years.”

Opponents of FIFA’s decision complained that they hadn’t heard of the regulation before.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RFBA) has denounced FIFA’s decision.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the association said.

The starting lineups for the U.S.–Belgium match are yet to be announced.

Trump was asked if he had spoken with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever about the matter. He said he had not, though it would probably be “a good idea.”

The president called the referee’s red card decision “horrible.”

“This was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything that would be different,” Trump said. “If they wouldn’t allow a top player [to compete because of a bad decision], I think it would have been a big stain.”

“We have to have our best players, and they have to have their best. If we win or lose, it’s fair.”

T.J. Muscaro contributed to this report.