U.S. loses to Belgium 4-1; Balogun plays after Trump calls FIFA
By Dan Mangan, Jack Sommers, Garrett Downs
KEY POINTS
- The United States lost to Belgium 4-1 in a World Cup knockout-round game on Monday night in Seattle.
- American striker Folarin Balogun played amid controversy over the reversal of his one-game suspension following a call by President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the red card that led to the ban.
- European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, said that FIFA had “crossed a red line” with the decision, which it called “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
The United States lost to Belgium 4-1 in a World Cup knockout-round game on Monday night in Seattle, despite star American striker Folarin Balogun playing amid a firestorm of controversy.
The loss eliminates the U.S. Men’s National Team from the World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico. With the U.S. defeat in the Round of 16, all three host teams now have been eliminated from the quadrennial soccer tournament.
Belgium’s soccer association earlier Monday had unsuccessfully appealed FIFA’s decision that permitted Balogun to play despite having received a red card and ejection in his prior game, which normally results in a one-game suspension.
FIFA’s surprise reversal on Sunday came after President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino last Wednesday and asked him to review the issuance of the red card.
FIFA on Monday afternoon said that the Royal Belgian Football Association’s challenge to the subsequent reversal “was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision” to give Balogun a one-game suspension.
United States of America forward Folarin Balogun (20) reacts after Belgium midfielder Hans Vanaken (20) (not shown) scored during the second half of a World Cup round of 16 knock out match between United States and Belgium at Lumen Field on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Seattle, WA.
“The chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston (from the United States), was not involved in the decision” to reject the Royal Belgian Football Association’s challenge to the reversal of the suspension, FIFA said in a statement.
The RBFA said it was “astonished by FIFA’s decision.”
“To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure [i.e.] a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations,” the association said in a statement.
The RBFA said that it has informed the U.S. Soccer Federation “that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet.”
“This leaves all further actions open,” the association said.
The RBFA earlier Monday blasted FIFA for refusing to ”respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests” about what led to Balogun being allowed to play in the match despite having previously been issued a one-game suspension.
RBFA has called FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play a “direct contradiction” of the competition regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Those regulations say, “If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match.”
Trump on Monday confirmed to reporters that he had called Infantino, the FIFA president, to ask him to review the issuing of the card and Balogun’s automatic suspension for the match against Belgium.
“I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said. “I didn’t know what the hell a red card was.”
Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA on Truth Social “for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
The Athletic reported earlier Monday that FIFA had granted RBFA the right to formally appeal the decision.
The RBFA later said it had not intended to appeal the decision, but asked for information, which FIFA interpreted as an appeal.
But FIFA provided “no information whatsoever” for the appeal, the RBFA said.
“While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible,” the RBFA said.
European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, in a statement Monday said that FIFA had “crossed a red line” with the decision, which it called “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” UEFA said.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” UEFA said. “Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole,” UEFA said.
U.S. Soccer, in a statement on Sunday, said, “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow.”
“Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans,” U.S. Soccer said.
Why FIFA let Folarin Balogun play
Balogun was issued a red card during the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him landing on the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic during contact between the two players.
That red card resulted in an immediate one-game suspension without appeal, as is normal.
But FIFA, for the first time in more than 60 years of World Cup matches, said it would allow him to play in the next game.
FIFA, in a statement on Sunday, said that “the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says, “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Trump’s reported role in the FIFA decision
The New York Times reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House called Infantino for that purpose.
Citing a U.S. official, MS NOW reported that during the call, Trump wanted to better understand why Balogun was hit with a red card and why that led to his suspension.
The official said that the “U.S. government” provided “additional evidence” directed to FIFA and that the association’s Disciplinary Committee used that information in the process that led to the reversal of Balogun’s suspension.
The government focused on referees reviewing a slow-motion replay before the red card was issued, according to the official.
“Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved,” the official told MS NOW.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC
Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
He has enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino, the president of FIFA, which awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize last year, after the president ferociously pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and did not win it.
Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure, which became public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/05/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup-red-card-suspension.html