{"id":91775,"date":"2026-07-06T13:30:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T17:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fifa-clears-u-s-striker-balogun-to-play-despite-red-card-after-trump-infantino-call\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T13:30:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T17:30:55","slug":"fifa-clears-u-s-striker-balogun-to-play-despite-red-card-after-trump-infantino-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fifa-clears-u-s-striker-balogun-to-play-despite-red-card-after-trump-infantino-call\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA Clears U.S. Striker Balogun to Play Despite Red Card After Trump-Infantino Call"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

A stunning and controversial ruling by FIFA has cleared U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun to play in the round of 16 despite being shown a red card just one week earlier.<\/p>

Balogun was ejected during the United States’ round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a foul that would normally trigger an automatic one-game suspension. Yet FIFA made the unusual decision to wipe away that ban, allowing him to suit up Monday against Belgium in Seattle.<\/p>

The ruling sent shockwaves through the soccer world, particularly after it came to light that President Donald Trump had spoken directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino prior to the decision. That revelation has sparked a heated debate about whether political pressure played a role in overturning the standard disciplinary process.<\/p>

Belgium’s football federation was not going down without a fight, filing a last-minute appeal in an attempt to block Balogun from taking the field. The rare nature of FIFA’s decision and the circumstances surrounding it have placed the governing body squarely at the center of a growing controversy.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

American forward Folarin Balogun received a red card during the U.S. match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, which should have triggered an automatic suspension. However, FIFA made the rare decision to lift that ban, allowing Balogun to take the field against Belgium on Monday in Seattle. The move sparked fierce debate after it was revealed that President Donald Trump had spoken with FIFA President Gianni Infantino before the ruling.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":91774,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[836],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783359055461.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-nSf","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":91546,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/u-s-takes-on-belgium-in-world-cup-round-of-16-after-fifa-lifts-balogun-suspension\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":0},"title":"U.S. Takes on Belgium in World Cup Round of 16 After FIFA Lifts Balogun Suspension","author":"Admin","date":"July 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The United States faces Belgium in a World Cup Round of 16 matchup with striker Folarin Balogun back in the lineup. FIFA made a surprise ruling to lift Balogun's one-game suspension stemming from a red card he received last week. The decision came amid attention from a call involving Trump\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783327547073-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C843&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783327547073-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C843&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783327547073-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C843&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783327547073-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C843&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783327547073-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C843&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":91577,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fifa-lifts-balogun-ban-after-trump-call-soccer-world-reacts-with-outrage\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":1},"title":"FIFA Lifts Balogun Ban After Trump Call \u2014 Soccer World Reacts With Outrage","author":"Admin","date":"July 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"FIFA suspended American striker Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match ban on Sunday, allowing him to play against Belgium in Monday's World Cup round of 16. The move came after U.S. President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino urging a review of the red card decision. The ruling drew sharp criticism\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783333847050.jpg?fit=450%2C307&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":91328,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-phoned-fifa-chief-to-challenge-red-card-against-us-soccer-star\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":2},"title":"Trump Phoned FIFA Chief to Challenge Red Card Against US Soccer Star","author":"Admin","date":"July 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino this week to request a review of a red card handed to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. FIFA ultimately reversed the one-game suspension, allowing Balogun to play in Monday's knockout match against Belgium. Trump celebrated the outcome on Truth Social, calling it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783287944063.jpg?fit=450%2C327&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":91754,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-calls-world-cup-red-card-horrible-says-he-asked-fifa-to-review-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":3},"title":"Trump Calls World Cup Red Card ‘Horrible,’ Says He Asked FIFA to Review It","author":"Admin","date":"July 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Donald Trump confirmed he personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued against U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. FIFA ultimately suspended the one-game ban, allowing Balogun to play in the round of 16 match against Belgium. Trump insisted he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783355559099.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783355559099.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783355559099.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783355559099.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":91685,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/belgium-says-fifa-turned-eligibility-request-into-rejected-appeal-in-balogun-case\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":4},"title":"Belgium Says FIFA Turned Eligibility Request Into Rejected Appeal in Balogun Case","author":"Admin","date":"July 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Belgium's football association says FIFA rejected its attempt to get information about U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's eligibility for their World Cup round-of-16 match. FIFA reportedly treated Belgium's request for documentation as an appeal \u2014 then declared it inadmissible. The controversy stems from FIFA's decision to lift Balogun's red-card suspension after\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783347430666.jpg?fit=450%2C298&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":91320,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/trump-calls-fifa-chief-baloguns-red-card-suspension-lifted-before-belgium-match\/","url_meta":{"origin":91775,"position":5},"title":"Trump Calls FIFA Chief, Balogun’s Red Card Suspension Lifted Before Belgium Match","author":"Admin","date":"July 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"U.S. forward Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play against Belgium on Monday after FIFA lifted his one-game suspension stemming from a red card in Wednesday's round of 32 victory. President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the card, and FIFA announced Sunday the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/sports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783287093611.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783287093611.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783287093611.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783287093611.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}