Trump asked FIFA to review Balogun World Cup suspension

U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates with teammate U.S. forward Folarin Balogun (20) after a goal against Paraguay in the first half of a 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Friday, June 12, 2026.

Medianews Group/pasadena Star-news via Getty Images | Medianews Group | Getty Images

President Donald Trump reportedly asked FIFA to review the one-match suspension of U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun for a World Cup match before the international soccer regulator surprisingly overturned the ban on Sunday.

Trump praised FIFA’s decision, which allows Balogun, 25, to play against Belgium in Monday’s match in Seattle.

Balogun, the U.S. team’s top scorer, received a controversial red card for a foul, leading to him being sent off the field during his team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.

This red card resulted in an immediate one-match suspension without appeal, as is normal.

But FIFA, for the first time in more than 60 years of the World Cup, said it would allow him to participate in the next match.

FIFA, in a statement released on Sunday, said that “the implementation of the automatic match suspension for American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”

The New York Times reported that Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, citing three people familiar with the matter. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House had called Infantino for this purpose.

MS NOW confirmed that Trump called the FIFA boss.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC’s question about Trump’s involvement in the situation.

But Trump wrote: “Thank you FIFA for doing what was right and overturning a great injustice!” on his Truth Social account.

The Royal Belgian Football Federation said it was “surprised” by FIFA’s about-face on Balogun’s suspension, saying it flouted FIFA’s written rules.

“URBSFA is studying all possible options,” indicates the association.

Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

He has a close relationship with Infantino, the FIFA president, who awarded Trump his first peace prize last year, after the president fiercely sought the Nobel Peace Prize and failed to win it.

Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure, which was made public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, worth $15,000, to the FIFA Club World Cup final last July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the pitch to present the trophy.

Team USA will face Belgium in Seattle on Monday in the round of 16 at 8 p.m. ET. The winner of the match will get their ticket to face Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.

Balogun, who scored three goals in the three matches he played at this World Cup, is a born-and-bred American citizen who grew up in the United Kingdom.

Trump last week lost a Supreme Court case challenging birthright law, with a majority of justices ruling that people born in the United States are American citizens. Trump issued an executive order last year aimed at sharply restricting the right to citizenship.

— CNBC’s Luke Fountain contributed to this article.

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