Trump calls FIFA's Infantino over Balogun red card as disciplinary body clears US striker to face Belgium

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee cleared United States striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 on Monday, overturning his automatic one-match suspension hours before kick-off at Seattle Stadium, after President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the red card.

The White House made a call to FIFA to ask Infantino to review the red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press. A US official said Trump spoke with Infantino because the president wanted to better understand the reason why the red card was given and why the one-game suspension was imposed. The US government also provided additional evidence that was used in the review process, which the official noted is run by an independent board.

Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" taking a victory lap on the platform. The White House's social media account reposted the message on X, adding the words "USA-USA-USA".

What FIFA decided

The controversy follows FIFA's announcement that the implementation of Balogun's automatic one-match suspension had been suspended under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. Article 27 states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the application of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction. In its statement, FIFA said: "The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year." If Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that period, the suspension will be revoked and the sanction enforced, without prejudice to any additional sanction.

It was not the first time FIFA used the clause. It previously stirred accusations of favouritism toward a box-office player when it allowed Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the preliminary rounds of these finals despite facing suspension for a red card in a qualifying game.

The red card that started it all

Balogun was shown a controversial red card on Wednesday during the United States' 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina to start the knockout stage. The card came after a replay review showed him inadvertently stepping on the back of the leg of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemović. Balogun was not even cautioned on the field initially; it was only after a slow-motion replay that VAR reviewed the events.

Christina Unkel, a referee and rules analyst who formerly worked as a FIFA referee, told NBC News the foul should not have been reviewed in the first place because it was not clear and obvious. "It was a bit of a surprise that VAR actually made a recommendation down for what one would argue is more of a subjective play," she said.

The US was not able to appeal the decision, leaving Balogun's fate in the hands of the disciplinary committee. Balogun, 25, had been a breakout star for the US, leading the team at the tournament with three goals.

Belgium furious, investigating options

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) released a statement on Sunday in response to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to reverse Balogun's one-match suspension ahead of the two countries' World Cup round of 16 match. The RBFA said it was "astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match".

The RBFA argued that Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as had been the case for all previous red cards issued during this World Cup. It also accused FIFA of contradicting Article 10.5 of its FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulation, which states that if a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card, they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match.

The RBFA noted that the automatic nature of such a suspension had been explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026, and reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match. The RBFA said it is now "investigating all potential options" in order to "safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play".

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said he thought it was a joke when he first heard news that Balogun had been cleared to play. "I didn't know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April — it's April Fools' Day," Garcia said at a news conference on Sunday. When asked whether Belgium might appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport — perhaps even after the match — Garcia demurred.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: "Had it been done earlier, we'd have been able to be mentally more prepared, perhaps. It's good that we have another training still to come. But we'll be ready. We'll be on the pitch. They have 11 players, not only Balogun."

Trump, Infantino and the politics of the tournament

Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada. He has enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino; FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize last year, after the president had pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and did not win it. Trump's 2025 financial disclosure, which became public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July's FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.

FIFA's announcement of the suspension's reversal on Sunday offered very little explanation, fuelling criticism that an exception was made for the US star after Trump complained. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee invoked Article 27 of its code, which allows the full or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure under a probationary period.

US Soccer said in a statement: "We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete today. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle."

Balogun plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club Monaco and the United States national team. Born in the United States to Nigerian parents and raised in the United Kingdom, Balogun was eligible to represent the United States, England and Nigeria at international level before he committed to the United States.

The USA v Belgium round of 16 match kicks off at 5:00 pm local time (Seattle) on Monday 6 July 2026, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. This is a developing story.