Landon Donovan has voiced his disappointment over the controversy involving Folarin Balogun's red card during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the situation "got out of hand" and tainted the US Men's National Team's (USMNT) remarkable tournament run.
Balogun received a red card in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026, initially making him ineligible for the following round. However, FIFA later suspended the red card, allowing Balogun to play.
President Donald Trump stated that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card decision. FIFA, however, claimed that Trump's involvement did not influence their ruling.
Donovan, speaking in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, said, "All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, that would be different."
He added, "The really sad part is that it never should have been a red card, but that is the reality. It's just disappointing that it got out of control that way. I felt bad for Balogun. I felt bad for the team, to be honest, and it was very clear that it motivated the Belgian team."
Donovan also lamented how the incident disrupted what had been a World Cup filled with nonpartisanship and widespread support for the American team. "Then it became very messy, and nobody wanted to see that, because we love the sport," he said.
The controversy surrounding the red card and the subsequent review added tension to the tournament, overshadowing the USMNT's performance.
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