On July 6, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to U.S. men's national team striker Folarin Balogun during a World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Balogun received the red card for a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic, leading to an automatic one-game suspension. FIFA later suspended the red card, allowing Balogun to participate in the upcoming match against Belgium.
FIFA stated that the Belgian football federation's request for an explanation of the decision was inadmissible, as they were not a party to the proceedings. Infantino emphasized the independence of FIFA's judicial bodies and stated that he had no influence over the decision regarding Balogun. Trump expressed his belief that the red card was an unfair decision, arguing that the incident was misrepresented during the VAR review.
FIFA recognized referee Raphael Claus as a leading professional referee and affirmed their confidence in his abilities. A U.S. official noted that Trump sought clarification on the red card and suspension, and that the appeals process is managed by an independent board. FIFA has not commented on the political implications of the situation.