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U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of U.S. Men's National Team forward Folarin Balogun's ban being suspended -Credit:Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images
U.S. President Donald Trump didn't hold back about highlighting his personal role in getting Folarin Balogun's red card suspension for the U.S. Men's National Team's Round of 16 FIFA World Cup game against Belgium reversed.
Trump acknowledged during a lengthy Monday press conference - one intended to unveil the new 'Trump Accounts for Kids' - that he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to address the issue. Infantino issued his own statement on Monday morning.
The USMNT is roughly even money to defeat Belgium on Monday night in Seattle, but having Balogun available will undoubtedly benefit coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad. Trump suggested a U.S. defeat without Balogun, whom he described as the team's "best player," would be "rigged" in a fashion comparable to the 2020 presidential election, as per The Mirror US.
- Belgium warns of 'further actions' regarding Folarin Balogun after USMNT star's World Cup ban suspended
- Folarin Balogun's USMNT eligibility could have been lost to Donald Trump's citizenship policy
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-Credit:Jamie Squire, Getty Images
"If Belgium beats us, then they can be really proud," the president stated during his Monday morning press conference. "The other way - if they beat us, I say it was rigged just like the election was rigged in 2020."
There is no credible evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which Trump narrowly lost to Democratic opponent Joe Biden.
According to Reuters, Trump promoted the 2020 rigged election claim on 107 separate public occasions from the start of 2026 through the end of May. "If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California," he said in one instance. Trump lost California by more than 29 percentage points.
Balogun is the USMNT's leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup, scoring three goals in as many matches. He received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 after unintentionally landing on defender Tarik Muharemovic's ankle, resulting in a mandatory one-game suspension.
"All I did was ask for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump added in his press conference.
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"And I think it would have been terrible if they wouldn't allow, you know, a top player - maybe the best, maybe among the best players on the team-to play. I think it would have had a big stain.
"You can't do that. If you would have taken him out, I think it would have really stained this incredible championship.
"We've got to have our best players, and Belgium has a great team, by the way. We have to have our best players, and they have to have their best players.
"If we win or we lose, it's fair. Otherwise, let's say we lost him and we lose the game - it would be a terrible thing."
Belgium bested the U.S. at the same point in the 2014 World Cup. The European nation still features several recognizable names - goalkeeper Thibault Courtois, midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, and striker Romelu Lukaku were all members of the 2014 Belgian squad - and arrives at this game having eliminated Senegal 3-2 in the Round of 16.
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