U.S. men's soccer team loses to Belgium after President Trump contacts FIFA official
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
The United States men's soccer team was defeated 4-1 by Belgium in a World Cup match, prompting speculation about President Donald Trump's involvement after he reportedly called FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The United States men's soccer team was beaten 4-1 by Belgium in a World Cup knockout match in Seattle on Monday. Observers noted several uncharacteristic errors by the American side.
According to reports, President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the weekend, after which a one-game suspension for U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was lifted.
Belgian players posted images of their victory with a caption referencing the overturned suspension and later performed a dance that mimics the former president’s well-known routine.
Commentators have linked the loss to previous instances in which Trump’s public comments or appearances coincided with defeats for other U.S. sports teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, the New York Knicks, and the Washington Commanders, though no causal relationship has been established.
The episode was discussed on the July 7 broadcast of “All In with Chris Hayes,” where the host described the situation as part of a broader pattern of political figures influencing sports events.