We are nearing the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stages.
Recently, host nations Canada and Mexico were eliminated from the competition, with our northern neighbors losing to Morocco (0-3) and our southern neighbors losing in a tumultuous battle against England (2-3).
The U.S. Men’s National Team, however, remains victorious, following their win against Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-0).
During the match, star player Folarin Balogun scored the team’s first goal right before halftime.
Things took a turn, however, in the 64th minute, after Balogun and Tarik Muharemović tried to take control of the ball.
Upon Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Review, match officials issued Balogun a controversial red card after slow-motion video footage showed him unintentionally stepping on his opponent’s ankle.
FIFA Overturns Balogun's Red Card
In a surprising announcement just one day before the U.S.’s matchup against Belgium, The Athletic announced that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended the red card issued to the USA striker.
Originally, it was believed that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision was made through an uninfluenced review. A couple of hours later, however, reports indicated that the White House allegedly called the soccer organization to review the foul call.
The decision led to criticism from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
Belgium & UEFA's Reponses
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA wrote, arguing that such a decision puts the integrity of football at stake.
"Regardless of the sporting outcome of this match, the RBFA is deeply saddened by the course of events and will continue to fight in the coming hours, days, and months in defence of the fundamental principles of ethics, fair competition, and the interests of football as a whole,” RBFA wrote in its statement.
President Trump's Called FIFA For Review
“So, I saw the play… I understand sports really well, really well. And that wasn’t a foul… two guys collided, which is what really happened. He [Balogun] didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s our best player or one of our best players. And he [the referee] gave him a red card. I didn't know what that meant… Then I started hearing that that means you can’t play at least in the next game… That’s very unfair… So, yes, I asked for a review by FIFA,” President Donald Trump confirmed during a press conference for the launch of Trump Accounts.
