Updated July 7, 2026 at 1:18 PM PDT
The U.S. men's national soccer team's World Cup run ended Monday with a 4-1 loss to Belgium. After the game, attention returned to FIFA's controversial decision to let U.S. striker Folarin Balogun play, even though he was handed a red card during the July 1 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
FIFA delayed Balogun's suspension by a year after President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to discuss the decision. During the phone call with Infantino, Trump wanted to understand the reasoning behind the decision to give a red card and a suspension, according to an official with knowledge of the call who was granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation. "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump wrote Sunday in a post on Truth Social.
"I have never covered a story in which a head of state actually inserted him- or herself into the field of play," USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan told Morning Edition on Tuesday.
Brennan said it is unclear how much the 36 hours prior to the game affected the U.S. team. U.S. Captain Tim Ream said the team was not distracted. But the columnist said the team's performance told a different story, describing the Americans as "ugly, sloppy, unfocused."
Brennan added that the episode could set a precedent for future international competitions, warning that it opens a "slippery slope" as the U.S. prepares to host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the play button above.
Copyright 2026 NPR
