On 1 July 2026, the USA played Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup Round of 32. In the match, USA player Folarin Balogun received a straight red card. A red card in the normal world includes being suspended from the next football match. However, what followed next was anything but normal. President Donald Trump contacted his friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to question the referee's judgement. His administration enlisted lawyers, prepared legal arguments, and threatened appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The result was extraordinary: FIFA suspended Balogun's ban for a one-year probationary period, clearing him to play the crucial Round of 16 tie—the first time since 1962 a player had been reinstated after a tournament red card.
UEFA responded with fury, calling the decision "incomprehensible" and warning that selective rule application threatened credibility. Jurgen Klopp called the intervention "madness," insisting political figures have no role in football's disciplinary matters. Belgium's federation challenged the ruling, arguing FIFA violated its own regulations.