Trump Called FIFA's Infantino; Balogun Suspension Lifted
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- Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red card issued to Folarin Balogun during Team USA's World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, per a White House source familiar with the call.
- FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun's one-game suspension would be lifted, allowing him to play in the US squad's Round of 16 matchup against Belgium.
- The call was disclosed to The Hill by a White House source familiar with the conversation; the article does not state what Trump specifically said to Infantino or what prompted the intervention.
- The red card came during the group-stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina; under the original ruling, Balogun would have sat out the knockout round.
- The story, published July 5, 2026, sits within Trump's ongoing personal involvement in major sporting events, including plans to host the NYSE opening bell ceremony Monday for 'Trump Accounts.'
Why it matters: A sitting US president personally lobbying a global sports federation to overturn a disciplinary action on a national-team player is an unusual use of the bully pulpit, and FIFA's decision to lift the suspension within a day of the call means Team USA keeps a key striker available for the knockout stage against Belgium — a direct competitive consequence the source explicitly links to Trump's outreach.
