President Donald Trump called the president of FIFA on Wednesday after American soccer player Folarin Balogun was given a controversial red card that would have prevented him from playing in the next match in the World Cup.FIFA later reversed the decision on Sunday afternoon and announced Balogun would be eligible to play in Monday night’s Round of 16 match against Belgium. A few hours after the announcement, it was reported by the New York Times that “President Trump called Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA… and asked him to review the suspension of [Balogun].”Balogun, 25, scored the first goal in Wednesday night’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Less than twenty minutes later, he was given a straight red card for inadvertently stepping on an opposing player’s ankle while competing for a pass, which results in an automatic one-game suspension.
United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) reacts to a red card during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The leading goal scorer for the U.S. has started all but one game throughout the World Cup and netted two goals in the team’s opening match against Paraguay. The odds of the U.S. beating Belgium jumped immediately after the news broke that Balogun would be eligible to play.FIFA said in a statement that the suspension of the disciplinary action isn’t permanent.“In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” according to the statement. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension will be revoked, and the sanction will be enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new restriction.”Trump thanked FIFA for the decision on Sunday afternoon, saying, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” in a Truth Social post. Trump has developed a friendly relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infertino, who gave Trump the “FIFA Peace Prize” in December 2025 at an event in Washington, D.C., after the U.S. president was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.President Donald Trump, left, speaks to reporters on the red carpet as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, watches, while arriving to attend the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
