Trump Calls Suspension of Balogun’s Ban the Most Memorable Moment of the World Cup

Dragon Media News Desk

US President Donald Trump has described the suspension of national team striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban as one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at an event held at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Trump said he had called Infantino and urged him to allow Balogun to play in the upcoming match. The event was held ahead of a FIFA Council meeting before the World Cup final.

Trump initially said he had advised Infantino to allow Balogun to play, but immediately corrected himself, saying that he had expressed a desire to file an appeal. He also admitted that he had “no idea” what would follow from the request.

Balogun received a red card during the United States’ 2–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 1, resulting in an automatic one-match suspension.

FIFA later suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium in the round of 16.

The decision prompted questions from European football officials, the Belgian football authorities and some former referees regarding sporting fairness and FIFA’s disciplinary procedures. FIFA maintained that the decision had been made independently by its disciplinary committee.

Belgium defeated the United States 4–1 in the match in which Balogun played, eliminating the American team from the tournament.

Trump said that because the United States had been able to field all its key players, there was no basis for supporters to argue after the defeat that the team had lost because Balogun was unavailable.

He defended Infantino’s decision, saying that had the United States been forced to play without Balogun, supporters could have claimed that the team lost because one of its best players was absent. Trump described the decision as another example of what he considered Infantino’s sound judgement.