Football fans launched a distinctive protest against US President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino at the FIFA World Cup final held on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Red cards were handed out in New York and New Jersey to attendees heading to MetLife Stadium for the Spain versus Argentina match.

Protest organizers encouraged fans to raise the red cards during the trophy presentation to express their discontent with Trump and Infantino, who were scheduled to present the World Cup to the winning captain. Each red card included a QR code linking to finalredcard.com, which provided instructions on when to display them.

The protest website stated, “After review, for political misconduct and abuse of the presidency, the decision is red card!” mimicking a video assistant referee review used in football matches.

This demonstration followed weeks of criticism directed at Infantino and Trump after US striker Folarin Balogun had his suspension lifted despite receiving a red card, allowing him to participate in the last-16 match against Belgium.

Sources