This is our flagship newsletter Morning Wire. You can subscribe here and we’ll email it to you daily.Welcome back and hope you had a lovely holiday weekend. In the news today: FIFA makes an extraordinary decision, lifting a U.S. World Cup star’s suspension after a call from Trump; the president’s mix of patriotism with partisanship in his speech marking America’s 250th; and crowds pack Tehran for the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Also, a look at a historic railway through the stunning Swiss Alps.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, awards President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of star U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, whose red-card suspension was lifted, allowing him to play against Belgium on Monday. Read more.Why this matters:Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the game with Bosnia-Herzegovina asking FIFA to review the red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. It appeared to be the first time since 1962 that a red card during a World Cup didn’t result in a suspension.The extraordinary move triggered praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said in a statement on social media. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was “astonished.”Related coverage →UEFA says decision by FIFA to let U.S. forward play at World Cup is ‘incomprehensible’Previewing the US match against Belgium
