{"id":676981,"date":"2026-07-07T14:29:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=676981"},"modified":"2026-07-07T15:09:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T20:09:01","slug":"cronkite-news-united-states-falters-in-world-cup-following-intervention-by-president-trump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/07\/07\/cronkite-news-united-states-falters-in-world-cup-following-intervention-by-president-trump\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: United States falters in World Cup following intervention by President Trump"},"content":{"rendered":"<iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/64kfu559Iq4pAel3kGOI3i?utm_source=generator&#038;si=e912c8824b354a2f\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\r\n<figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Cronkite News Audio: <a href=https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/episode\/64kfu559Iq4pAel3kGOI3i?go=1&#038;sp_cid=46b27c76004b6e37c8d11db71786261e&#038;utm_source=embed_player_p&#038;utm_medium=desktop&#038;si=4c8548ab6ea3408e&#038;nd=1&#038;dlsi=d09d9409b6ef4231>FIFA\u2019s decision to reinstate Balogun sparked World Cup debate before, after loss<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n<div class=\"h3-responsive font-weight-bold\">Seeing red: FIFA\u2019s decision to reinstate Balogun sparked World Cup debate before, after loss<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"date\">Tuesday, July 7, 2026<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"byline\">By Matthew Badger, Cronkite News<\/div>\r\n<DIV class=\"source-website\"><A \r\nhref=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/\">cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n <p>PHOENIX  &#8212; The stars have been shining, the games have been enthralling and the atmosphere has been unmatched. Despite what has been a captivating World Cup on the pitch, however, the recent debate surrounding Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card has done much to disturb those good feelings.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>The U.S. striker received his now-infamous red card in the team\u2019s round-of-32 clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, a decision that carries an automatic one-match suspension. A few days later, FIFA ruled to suspend Balogun&#8217;s automatic suspension for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of the <a href=\"https:\/\/digitalhub.fifa.com\/asset\/5bd452de-0dd6-4342-93d4-53122ccb75b9\/FIFA-Disciplinary-Code-2026.pdf\">FIFA Disciplinary Code<\/a>, making Balogun eligible for Monday&#8217;s round-of-16 match against Belgium in Seattle.<\/p>\r\n<p>It didn&#8217;t matter. The U.S. fell 4-1 to Belgium as speculation grew about the controversy&#8217;s role in the team&#8217;s poor performance<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cI want to stress that it\u2019s not a red card,\u201d Arizona State women\u2019s soccer coach Graham Winkworth said when asked to analyze the initial call. \u201cBut if FIFA has a rule at the beginning of the tournament before a ball is kicked that you can rescind a red card, great, rescind that red card, but you can\u2019t change the rules of a tournament in the middle of a tournament to suit a host nation.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>FIFA\u2019s regulations outline procedures for implementation of disciplinary measures, with Article 27 stating \u201cthe judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The decision is clearly stated in FIFA\u2019s code, but its convenient application, and the timing of that application have clouded its perception.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cThis hasn\u2019t happened in the middle of a tournament before,\u201d Winkworth said. \u201cThere have been situations where (Cristiano) Ronaldo or (Wayne) Rooney, for example, picked up cards preceding the tournament but they\u2019ve managed not to be suspended for the first game. This is in the middle of the tournament and I\u2019ve not seen anything like it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n <a href=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/07\/07\/cronkite-news-united-states-falters-in-world-cup-following-intervention-by-president-trump\/donaldtrump-52\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-677277\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" data-attachment-id=\"677277\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/07\/07\/cronkite-news-united-states-falters-in-world-cup-following-intervention-by-president-trump\/donaldtrump-52\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/07\/DonaldTrump-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1365\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-title=\"Donald Trump\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Donald Trump&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Since taking office, President Donald Trump has enjoyed a close relationship with the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Football Association, also known as FIFA. Photo: &lt;a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/whitehouse\/albums\/72177720330798188\/&gt;Daniel Torok \/ White House&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/07\/DonaldTrump-2.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/07\/DonaldTrump-2.jpg\" alt=\"Donald Trump\"   class=\"size-full wp-image-677277\" \/><\/a> <figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Since taking office, President Donald Trump has enjoyed a close relationship with the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale de Football Association, also known as FIFA. Photo: <a href=https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/whitehouse\/albums\/72177720330798188\/>Daniel Torok \/ White House<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<p>The idea of overturning red cards is not new to soccer and it is not new to the World Cup. Earlier this tournament, Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo received a red card for a reckless challenge that broke Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone\u2019s leg, and the automatic one-match suspension was upgraded by FIFA to five games. The same rules apply in domestic leagues.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cIn most soccer leagues around the world, there are automatic reviews of what the subsequent impact of a red card should be,\u201d said ASU professor and author of the \u201cThe Great Game,\u201d Andres Martinez. \u201cYou will routinely see that they decide that (a red card) doesn\u2019t merit missing out on an additional match.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>Fans across the world are split on FIFA\u2019s decision to allow Balogun to play. One camp believes the red card should not have been issued in the first place and justice was ultimately achieved. The other camp believes foul play led FIFA to reverse the decision.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cThere are people that say, \u2018Rules are rules and they need to be followed,\u2019 but the issue here is, I don\u2019t have a problem with the outcome, I have a problem with the process,\u201d said former Canadian Premier League commissioner Mark Noonan, who was also an executive with MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cA call is appealed, an independent jury looks at the appeal, makes a decision and issues a verdict in a very timely manner. Article 27 is FIFA\u2019s version because there\u2019s no appeal process. FIFA has the power to do whatever they want, whenever they want. That\u2019s being perceived, right or not, by the rest of the world that they are using the rules to favor one of the hosts and that doesn\u2019t seem like a good process.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>For many, the delay in FIFA\u2019s announcement was all the more frustrating when coupled with President Donald Trump\u2019s comments suggesting he played a role in the decision. Reports say he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino last Thursday to discuss the situation.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cAll I did, I asked for a review, cause I didn&#8217;t think it was a foul,\u201d Trump told reporters Monday. \u201cI didn&#8217;t tell them what to do, I can&#8217;t tell them what to do. \u2026 I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">FIFA President Gianni Infantino: <br><br>\u201cI have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA\u2019s governance.<br><br>\u201cFIFA\u2019s judicial\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FzeWuMQIXf\">pic.twitter.com\/FzeWuMQIXf<\/a><\/p>&mdash; FIFA Media (@fifamedia) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/fifamedia\/status\/2074160315562885122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 6, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\r\n<P><\/P>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/fifamedia\/status\/2074160315562885122\">Infantino released a statement<\/a> confirming that the call with Trump took place, but he insisted it had no effect on Balogun\u2019s status.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cOn this matter, I did receive a call from President Donald Trump, just as I receive calls from heads of state, government officials, football stakeholders and business executives from around the world on many different issues,\u201d the statement read. \u201cDuring our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA\u2019s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>The fallout from this decision has tainted what has been an exciting World Cup altogether.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201c(The opacity of the rules) are leading to a global outcry about the integrity of the game, which FIFA doesn\u2019t want,\u201d Noonan said. \u201cFIFA wants to focus on the games themselves, the great players, the incredible atmospheres, and the fact that this is the story now, it\u2019s not great for FIFA.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>It has also dampened the USMNT\u2019s historic early performance.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cI feel terrible for the U.S. team, they didn\u2019t ask for any of this,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cThey started the tournament so strong and had such an appealing, likeable underdog team, which had won not just the respect and support of a lot of fans within the U.S., but even a lot of admiration outside the U.S. Now, they have this cloud that\u2019s gonna follow anything they subsequently accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/USMNT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#USMNT<\/a> striker Folarin Balogun on his immediate reaction to red card: <br><br>\u201cI think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There\u2019s still lots of people we\u2019re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to\u2026<\/p>&mdash; Sanjay Sujanthakumar (@tha_Real_Kumar) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tha_Real_Kumar\/status\/2073105697722839302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><p><\/p>\r\n<p>For Balogun, who <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/tha_Real_Kumar\/status\/2073105697722839302\">handled this whole situation with humility and pride<\/a>, the magnitude of this decision will follow him for the rest of career.<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cI feel bad for Balogun, the poor guy,\u201d Winkworth said. \u201cFirstly, he\u2019s gone through the red card which he shouldn\u2019t have got, and now he&#8217;s going through all this and he\u2019s going to have to play with all of that fog. It\u2019s going to be tainted to the point where if I\u2019m Pochettino, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m playing him.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p>Pochettino did, but in the end, it didn&#8217;t matter.<\/p><p><\/p>\r\n<HR>\r\n<STRONG>For more stories from Cronkite News, visit <A href=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=client\">cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A>.<\/STRONG>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<p>This <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2026\/07\/06\/fifa-reinstate-folarin-balogun-world-cup-2026\/\">article<\/a> first appeared on <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\">Cronkite News<\/a> and is republished here under a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nd\/4.0\/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/favicon1.png?resize=85%2C85&amp;ssl=1\" style=\"width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;\"><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" id=\"republication-tracker-tool-source\" src=\"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/?republication-pixel=true&#038;post=104781\" style=\"width:1px;height:1px;\"><script> PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: \"https:\/\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/2026\/07\/06\/fifa-reinstate-folarin-balogun-world-cup-2026\/\", urlref: window.location.href }); } } <\/script> <script id=\"parsely-cfg\" src=\"\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/cronkitenews.azpbs.org\/p.js\"><\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cAll I did, I asked for a review, cause I didn\u2019t think it was a foul,\u201d President Donald Trump said.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":677277,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,14,21,23],"tags":[7569,46,75,7570,2090],"class_list":["post-676981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","category-politics","category-sports","category-world","tag-belgium","tag-cronkite-news","tag-donald-trump","tag-folarin-balogun","tag-soccer","no-wpautop"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/07\/DonaldTrump-2.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcoJ7g-2Q73","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676981"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":677279,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676981\/revisions\/677279"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/677277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}