At the 2026 World Cup, football politics resurfaced when former US President Donald Trump successfully lobbied FIFA to suspend the red card suspension of the USA's leading scorer, Folarin Balogun. This decision came just over 48 hours before the USA's quarterfinal match against Belgium.

FIFA overturned its usual ban on red card appeals, citing Article 27, which permits the "full or partial suspension of the implementation of a disciplinary measure." The ruling stated that the "automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year."

Trump expressed his approval on his Truth Social platform, thanking FIFA for "doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" The close relationship between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had previously awarded Trump a FIFA Peace Prize, has drawn scrutiny and renewed attention.

In response, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) was granted the right to appeal the decision to a FIFA appeals committee member unaffiliated with UEFA or CONCACAF. Meanwhile, the French Football Federation is reportedly considering an appeal regarding a contentious yellow card received by Bayern Munich's Michael Olise in their last-16 match against Paraguay.

This incident echoes a previous case where Cristiano Ronaldo's red card ban was reduced after a White House dinner with Trump, allowing him to participate fully in Portugal's World Cup games.

The controversy has reignited debate over FIFA's disciplinary processes and the influence of political figures on sporting decisions.

Sources