President Donald Trump on Monday defended making a phone call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, which led to the soccer association controversially overturning a one-game World Cup suspension of U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun.
"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said, referring to a referee issuing Balogun a red card in his team's victory last week over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I didn't know what the hell a red card was," Trump told reporters at the White House for an Oval Office event promoting the launch of Trump Accounts, an investment vehicle for children.
The card led to Balogun being ejected from that match — and to the 25-year-old being barred from playing in the U.S.'s game on Monday night against Belgium.
Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States fouls Tarik Muharemovic #4 of Bosnia and Herzegovina which is later reviewed by VAR and awarded as a red card foul a during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
Michael Steele | Getty Images
But FIFA on Sunday suspended the ban, allowing Balogun to play in Monday night's knockout match against Belgium in Seattle.
"I didn't tell him what to do. I can't tell him what to do," Trump said of his call to Infantino. "And I don't believe he made the decision."
Infantino, in a statement issued by FIFA on X, defended the decision to reverse Balogun's suspension, which he said was the result of review by the organization's "independent" judicial bodies, which operate "autonomously."
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"Yes, I regularly discuss matters related to the FIFA World Cup with the President of the United States, and on this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues," Infantino said.
"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies," Infantino said. "That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.
"I read the decisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," he said. "What I always do, however, is respect those decisions and the autonomy of the bodies that make them. Whether we personally like a decision or not is irrelevant.
Trump said that if Balogun's suspension had been upheld for the match against Belgium, "This game would have a big mark on it, if we lost or if we won."
"If they beat us, then they could be really proud," Trump said of the Belgian squad.
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