United States President Donald Trump has revealed that he personally asked FIFA to review the one-match suspension handed to United States striker Folarin Balogun during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Trump made the disclosure at the White House on Monday after FIFA suspended the automatic one-game ban for 12 months, making Balogun available for the United States’ Round of 16 clash against Belgium in Seattle.
Balogun, who is the United States’ leading scorer at the tournament, had initially been ruled out of the knockout fixture after receiving a suspension. However, FIFA overturned the decision on Monday night, allowing the 25-year-old forward to remain eligible for selection.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believed the original decision was unfair and insisted the incident did not warrant a suspension.
“I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled,” Trump said.
The President added that he had asked football’s world governing body to take another look at the incident, although he acknowledged that the final decision rested with FIFA.
“I think it would have left a big stain. I can’t tell them what to do. I don’t believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision,” he stated.
Trump praised FIFA’s decision to reverse the suspension, arguing that preventing one of the tournament’s standout players from participating in a crucial knockout match would have been damaging to the competition.
Balogun has been one of the United States’ key performers at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leading his country’s scoring charts and playing a vital role in helping the team reach the knockout stage.
His availability is expected to provide a significant boost for the United States as they prepare to face Belgium in a high-stakes Round of 16 encounter.
The decision has generated widespread discussion among football fans, with many welcoming FIFA’s review while others continue to debate the circumstances surrounding the original suspension.
