Megan Rapinoe Attributes US Men's Soccer Team's World Cup Loss to Trump's Involvement

Megan Rapinoe stated that President Donald Trump's involvement negatively impacted the U.S. men's soccer team's performance in the World Cup, specifically affecting their underdog status. During an interview on 'The Daily Show,' Rapinoe responded to a question regarding the red card issued to U.S. player Folarin Balogun, which Trump had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review. Rapinoe suggested that Trump's involvement may have distracted the team, saying, 'It seemed like it kind of like, threw them off their game.' She noted that the team had a positive vibe prior to Trump's involvement, which she felt changed the dynamic. Rapinoe also expressed that the team lacked experienced players to handle such distractions effectively. In a statement, White House spokesman Davis Ingle highlighted the economic success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attributing it to Trump's leadership. The U.S. men's national team lost to Belgium in the Round of 16 following the red card controversy, with Balogun acknowledging the impact of external pressures on the team's performance.