Trump official sought FIFA review of Balogun red card

A Trump administration official asked FIFA to review U.S. striker https://www.axios.com/2026/07/05/folarin-balogun-cleared-usmnt-belgium-fifa-red-card" target="_blank">Folarin Balogun's red card, a source familiar with the matter tells Axios.

Why it matters: Direct intervention by a U.S. administration official in a FIFA disciplinary case would be highly unusual, and the reversal of Balogun's https://www.axios.com/2026/07/02/us-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-balogun" target="_blank">one-match suspension allows him to play in the knockout stage.

The big picture: The episode underscores the extraordinary level of https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_blank">White House interest in the U.S. men's national team's World Cup run and raises questions about political involvement in international sports governance.

Driving the news: The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/us/trump-fifa-balogun-world-cup.html" target="_blank">reported Sunday that President Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, though the source did not identify who contacted FIFA about Balogun's disciplinary case.

• Trump welcomed the reversal in a Truth Social post earlier Sunday, https://truthsocial.com/%40realDonaldTrump/posts/116868490571213527" target="_blank">saying: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

Flashback: Balogun was red-carded in Team USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

What's next: The U.S. plays Belgium in the round of 16 clash on Monday.