U.S. forward Folarin Balogun says President Donald Trump’s intervention in the reversal of his World Cup suspension created an unnecessary distraction for the U.S. Men’s National Team during its knockout-stage campaign.
According to a report by CBS News published on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Balogun made the remarks during an interview on CBS Mornings, reflecting on the controversy that followed his reinstatement ahead of the Round of 16 match against Belgium.
Balogun was sent off during the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina after stepping on defender Tarik Muharemović’s foot. Under FIFA rules, the red card automatically ruled him out of the next match.
The 25-year-old said he was surprised by the referee’s decision, insisting the challenge was unintentional.
“I was definitely in shock. When something is not intentional, it should never be a red card,” he said.
Days before the knockout fixture, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee overturned the suspension, making Balogun eligible to face Belgium.
The decision drew widespread attention after Trump publicly said he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the incident, arguing that Balogun’s challenge did not warrant a dismissal. FIFA confirmed that Infantino received the call but maintained that the disciplinary committee reached its decision independently.
Balogun said he was pleased to return to the squad but quickly realised the circumstances would generate significant controversy.
“My initial reaction was that I was happy to be back in the team, but when I started to reflect on it, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy. It put a lot more pressure on us than we needed,” he said.
He added that the intense media attention affected the team’s atmosphere before the match.
“I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something so unique. As the game approached, I focused as much as possible. It was hard. Outside noise was difficult to avoid.”
The United States was eliminated from the tournament after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. Balogun started the match but had limited impact.
Despite acknowledging that the controversy was a distraction, he said it was not responsible for the defeat.
“We’re all professionals, so it’s not difficult to separate once we got over the initial announcement that I’d be back. The game against Belgium was difficult, which can obscure our attention. I knew from camp that we were focused on the game,” he said.
The incident has continued to generate debate, with human rights organisation FairSquare reportedly filing a complaint with the International Olympic Committee over alleged political interference in football governance. Infantino has denied that Trump’s intervention influenced FIFA’s disciplinary process.
Following the United States’ exit, Balogun apologised to supporters and said the experience would motivate the team ahead of its next major international competition.
