USMNT Players Criticize Trump's Role in Balogun's Red Card Saga
WHO:
AOL.com - Multiple USMNT players expressed concerns about Trump's comments regarding Balogun's situation.
bolavip.com - Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Soccer Federation, criticized FIFA's handling of Balogun's case.
AOL.com - Folarin Balogun, President Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, USMNT players, Norwegian Soccer Federation, Lise Klaveness
bolavip.com - Norwegian Soccer Federation, Lise Klaveness
World Soccer Talk - Belgian Royal Football Association (RBFA)
WHAT:
AOL.com - Trump stated, "All I did was ask for a review. I didn't say, you have to do this."
bolavip.com - Klaveness emphasized that bypassing rules "constitutes a threat to this sport."
amNewYork - Balogun described his return to the team as "surreal" and initially thought it was a joke.
AOL.com - Folarin Balogun received a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
AOL.com - Balogun's red card led to an automatic one-match ban, ruling him out of the Round of 16 match against Belgium.
AOL.com - President Trump intervened by calling Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's suspension.
AOL.com - FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended Balogun's ban and replaced it with a one-year probationary period, allowing him to play against Belgium.
bolavip.com - The Norwegian Soccer Federation plans to file a complaint with FIFA regarding the overturning of Balogun's red card.
World Soccer Talk - Norway's federation is considering a formal complaint to FIFA's ethics committee over the handling of Balogun's case.
World Soccer Talk - Belgium won the Round of 16 match against the USA 4-1.
WHERE:
AOL.com - The incident occurred during the FIFA World Cup 2026, specifically in a match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
bolavip.com - The Norwegian Soccer Federation is based in Norway.
WHEN:
AOL.com - The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027.
bolavip.com - The incident involving Balogun is described as one of the largest controversies in the history of the 2026 World Cup.
WHY:
AOL.com - USMNT players believed Trump's public comments created unnecessary attention before the Round of 16 match.
AOL.com - Trump's intervention was criticized by USMNT players, who believed it created unnecessary attention before the Round of 16 match.
bolavip.com - Lise Klaveness stated that bypassing rules jeopardizes the integrity of soccer.
HOW:
World Soccer Talk - The Norwegian Soccer Federation is considering seeking backing from its board before filing a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee.
AOL.com - Trump publicly criticized the red card decision and thanked FIFA for overturning it on Truth Social.
World Soccer Talk - FIFA referenced a rule allowing the enforcement of a disciplinary sanction to be suspended without providing a public explanation.
(UPDATED July 24, 2026 08:46 UTC)
Multiple USMNT players have voiced their concerns about President Trump's comments regarding Balogun's situation, believing that his public remarks have drawn unnecessary attention ahead of their crucial Round of 16 match. In response to the controversy, Trump stated, "All I did was ask for a review. I didn't say, you have to do this," while Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Soccer Federation, criticized FIFA's handling of the case and emphasized that bypassing rules "constitutes a threat to this sport." The Norwegian Soccer Federation is now considering seeking backing from its board before potentially filing a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee.
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(UPDATED July 24, 2026 07:49 UTC)
In a dramatic turn of events during the FIFA World Cup 2026, Folarin Balogun received a red card in the Round of 32 match between the USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which initially led to a one-match ban that would have ruled him out of the crucial Round of 16 match against Belgium. However, President Trump intervened by reaching out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, resulting in FIFA's disciplinary committee suspending Balogun's ban and allowing him to play, though the Norwegian Soccer Federation is now considering filing a complaint regarding the handling of the situation. Ultimately, Belgium triumphed over the USA with a score of four to one in that Round of 16 match.