Published On 7/6/2026
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Last update: 07:49 (Mecca time)
Following a personal phone call made by US President Donald Trump with the President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, it was officially decided to allow American striker Folarin Balogun to participate in the match against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup final, in an unprecedented step that sparked intense controversy and shook the foundations of the tournament.
Trump’s call with Infantino
Informed sources revealed to Agence France-Presse that Trump’s intervention last week and his direct request to review Balogun’s punishment was the main driver of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend the player’s ban for one year. Trump bragged about this intervention on his “Truth Social” platform, saying: “Thank you, FIFA, for doing what is right and correcting a great injustice!” This is a presidential intervention that coincided with public calls from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to cancel the card.
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Balogun had received a direct red card after a video review, after stepping on the foot of a Bosnian defender in the round of 32, in a match that ended with the United States winning 2-0. According to FIFA regulations, a direct red card means an automatic suspension for one match by a non-appealable decision, which Balogun himself acknowledged on Friday, considering that the suspension is something that he must accept.
However, the International Federation justified its sudden decision based on Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, considering the suspension of implementation as a one-year probationary period, and pointing to the precedent of reducing the penalty of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo late last year to justify this measure.
Belgium attacks FIFA’s decision
FIFA’s decision was met with harsh criticism from the Belgian side, which considered the move a violation of the principles of fair play. The Royal Belgian Federation issued a statement expressing its astonishment at the decision, which directly contradicts the regulations, stressing that it is studying all options to protect the legitimate rights of the teams.
For his part, Belgium’s French coach, Rudi Garcia, angrily stated that he did not know that July 5 had become April Fool’s Day in the World Cup, stressing that his defense was focused on the ethics and integrity of football, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois considered that the issuance of the decision one day before the match was surprising and had a negative impact on his team’s mental preparation.
On the other hand, the decision constituted a huge morale boost for the American team, which is relying heavily on its top scorer, Balogun, who scored the three goals, in the efforts of the United States – which is hosting the tournament in partnership with Canada and Mexico – to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.
American star Christian Pulisic told reporters in Seattle that his teammates welcomed the decision, considering that it gives them a strong boost. The American Football Association also issued a brief statement in which it expressed its great happiness with its player’s eligibility to participate in this decisive confrontation.
