The U.S. men's soccer team’s hopes of winning their first World Cup on the nation’s 250th birthday were dashed on July 6, 2026, when Belgium defeated the U.S. 4–1 in Seattle. The loss was further overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s intervention to influence the outcome.

FIFA, the international soccer federation, reversed its suspension of star American striker Folarin Balogun on July 5, following pressure from Trump. Balogun had received a red card for stepping on the ankle of Bosnian player Tarik Muharemović during a previous game. Some experts, including former elite referee Andy Davies, considered the incident a normal accident and believed Balogun’s suspension was unwarranted.

After Belgium scored their fourth goal, striker Romelu Lukaku made a mocking phone call gesture, and the Belgian team posted his photo on Instagram with the caption, "Overturn this."

Balogun himself had not sought Trump’s assistance and expressed a commitment to sportsmanship. After receiving the red card, he told reporters, "There's still lots of people we're inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it's unjust."

While Iranian players expressed gratitude for Los Angeles hospitality and spoke about peace after their match against Belgium, the Trump administration reportedly gloated about its influence over the players off the field.

The involvement of the U.S. government in the suspension reversal was described as a "sore-loser" move, with Trump opting for indirect pressure rather than direct threats.

Sources