The White House placed a call to FIFA requesting that Gianni Infantino review Folarin Balogun’s red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
Details of the Call
The person did not have details to share about who specifically made the call or when it occurred. The call came after Balogun was shown a red card during the United States' World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle on July 5, 2026.
Trump Celebrates Reversal
Trump celebrated the red card reversal shortly after it was announced, posting on his social media network: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
The reversal allowed Balogun to avoid suspension for the next match, should the US advance. The incident sparked widespread debate among fans and analysts about the use of video assistant referee technology and the influence of political intervention in sports.
