President Donald Trump made a direct request to the head of FIFA and received daily briefings, while the White House offered its attorneys to U.S. Soccer to help in the appeal.FIFA president Gianni Infantino with President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, in March.Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images fileJuly 6, 2026, 11:34 AM EDTIn the minutes after the U.S. soccer team triumphed over Bosnia-Herzegovina, senior Trump administration officials kicked off an extraordinary behind-the-scenes push to reverse the red card shown to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, hoping to preserve his eligibility for a pivotal World Cup match against Belgium.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.