U.S. soccer team eliminated after 4-1 loss to Belgium amid presidential intervention
The United States men's soccer team was knocked out of the World Cup after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, a match that followed President Trump's request to FIFA to overturn a red card given to forward Folarin Balogun.
President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino in an effort to have a red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during the team's 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina rescinded. The appeal was reviewed by VAR, which could mark the first instance of a presidential request influencing a disciplinary decision in a World Cup match.
In the round of 16, the United States faced Belgium, ranked ninth by FIFA, and were defeated 4-1, ending their tournament run. Defender Chris Richards said the team felt pressure to perform at home but did not attribute the loss to the recent controversy. Midfielder Tim Ream and coach Mauricio Pochettino also dismissed the notion that political distractions affected the players.
Balogun started and played most of the match, but the United States struggled to create scoring opportunities. Christian Pulisic left the game in the 59th minute with an ankle injury, and goalkeeper Matt Freese made an error that led to Belgium's third goal. The defeat marked the U.S. team's first World Cup knockout appearance since 2002.
The incident has sparked discussion about whether FIFA should establish a formal appeals process for disciplinary actions, similar to mechanisms used in other major sports leagues.