#pochettino — Trump Fail

Trump Called FIFA to Get a Player's Ban Reversed — The U.S. Lost 4-1, Belgium Danced to YMCA in the Locker Room, Posted "Overturn This," and the World Learned What Happens When You Replace Sportsmanship with Political Favors

The United States Men's National Team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16, eliminated from a World Cup they were hosting. Two days earlier, Trump had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to get striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension reversed — which FIFA did, in a first-of-its-kind decision that UEFA called "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable." Belgium captain Youri Tielemans revealed the team held a meeting when they heard: "We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch." They did. Belgium scored in the 9th minute. De Ketelaere scored twice, Vanaken added a third after a goalkeeping blunder, Lukaku sealed it in stoppage time. Balogun — the man Trump moved heaven and earth to get on the pitch — was "largely anonymous" and subbed off in the 92nd minute. Belgium's fans chanted "FIFA Mafia" on their march to the stadium. After the final whistle, Belgium's official account posted "Overturn this." The players did Trump's signature YMCA dance by the corner flag, then again in the locker room — Lukaku and De Ketelaere leading the fist-pumping routine. Nicolas Raskin said justice was served. Coach Rudi Garcia sought out Balogun to tell him personally: "It's not his fault." Trump had called the referee "a little bit suspect" and urged journalists to "check his past." He admitted: "I didn't know what the hell a red card was." With the loss, all three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — were eliminated from the tournament. Trump's call didn't just fail to help. It may have been the single most counterproductive thing anyone could have done.

Trump Personally Called FIFA's President to Get a U.S. Player's Red Card Reversed at the World Cup — FIFA Complied, Belgium Is "Astonished," and the Same FIFA President Gave Trump a Peace Prize, Rents Office Space in Trump Tower, Gave Him $15,000 in Tickets, and Will Let Him Present the Trophy at the Final

President Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to review U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card suspension during the 2026 World Cup, the New York Times reported. FIFA then reversed the automatic one-game ban, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, making Balogun available for the Round of 16 match against Belgium. The Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" and is "investigating all potential options." Trump posted: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, asked if politicians should lobby FIFA over specific decisions: "No, we cannot mix that. We cannot mix that." Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville: "It absolutely stinks, let's be really clear." The call is the latest expression of an extraordinary relationship between Trump and Infantino. FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural "Peace Prize" in December 2025 — a prize no senior FIFA official had heard of before Infantino announced it. FIFA rents office space in Trump Tower at an estimated $40,000 per month — space that reportedly sits largely idle. Infantino gave Trump $15,000 in tickets to the FIFA Club World Cup final. Trump's financial disclosure lists nearly $120,000 in sports tickets from various sources. Infantino announced Trump will help present the World Cup trophy at the July 19 final. Fifty members of the European Parliament sent FIFA a letter urging it to address an ethics complaint over the peace prize, calling it "a clear breach of FIFA's duty of neutrality." The president of the United States called the president of FIFA to get a soccer ruling changed in his country's favor during a tournament his country is hosting, and FIFA — which rents space in his building, gave him a peace prize, and will put him at center stage for the final — said yes.