President Donald Trump said he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request the overturn of a red-card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.
The intervention occurred during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, raising questions about the intersection of political influence and international sports officiating. The request aimed to ensure Balogun was available for the U.S. match against Belgium.
Trump said he contacted Infantino on Wednesday, July 5 [1], the day before the Round-of-16 match scheduled for July 6 [2]. The president said that he believed the red card was not a foul [3].
Despite the request, Trump acknowledged a lack of familiarity with the specific rules of the game. "I didn't know what the hell a red card was," Trump said [4]. He said, "I didn't think it was a foul" [5].
Reports indicate the suspension was eventually overturned, allowing Balogun to participate in the elimination game [6]. Trump later said that the officials made the right decision [6].
There is disagreement among sources regarding whether the phone call directly resulted in the rule change. Some reports link the call to the overturn [6], while other analysts said it is impossible to confirm the call caused the decision without knowing the full details of the conversation [7].
“"I didn't know what the hell a red card was."”
The incident highlights a rare instance of a head of state directly intervening in a sporting disciplinary matter. While FIFA typically maintains autonomy over refereeing decisions, the reported communication between the U.S. President and the FIFA President suggests a level of diplomatic pressure that could complicate the perceived neutrality of the tournament's officiating.
