Trump official sought FIFA review of Balogun red card
Source: Axios · Bias: Center Left
Summary
A Trump administration official asked FIFA to review U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card, a source familiar with the matter tells Axios.Why it matters: Direct intervention by a U.S. administration official in a FIFA disciplinary case would be highly unusual, and the reversal of Balogun's one-match suspension allows him to play in the knockout stage.The big picture: The episode underscores the extraordinary level of White House interest in the U.S. men's national team's World Cup run and raises questions about political involvement in international sports governance.Driving the news: The New York Times reported Sunday that President Trump spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, though the source did not identify who contacted FIFA about Balogun's disciplinary case.Trump welcomed the reversal in a Truth Social post earlier Sunday, saying: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"Flashback: Balogun was red-carded in Team USA's 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina.What's next: The U.S. plays Belgium in the round of 16 clash on Monday.
Related Coverage
- (VIDEO) Trump Addresses Assassination Concerns After Sending New Air Force One to Europe Instead of Flying Home on Plane – UPDATE: Press Told to Keep Window Shades on Air Force One Closed (Far Right — The Gateway Pundit)
- Trump Says US May Strike Iran Again, Threatens New Blockade (Center — Bloomberg Politics)
- Trump launches ferocious bombardment on Iran after regime placed deadly bounty on his head (Right — US Politics: Latest News, Comments and Breaking Stories | Mail Online)
- Trump Tries To Take Credit for a Walmart July 4 Grocery Sale (Center Right — Reason.com)
- BREAKING UPDATE: President Trump Releases Footage of US Strikes Against Iran, Calls it “Retribution” (VIDEO) (Far Right — The Gateway Pundit)
- Cost of Trump's war exceeds $100 billion — and there's no plan to pay the bill: analysis (Far Left — Raw Story)
- Trump Backs Ukrainian Strikes Deep Inside Russia (Center — WSJ.com : U.S. News)
- 'Let's Just Finish the Job': Trump Confirms Iran Strikes to Likely Come Wednesday Night (Right — RedState)
Daily Analysis
Read the full Parallax Pulse for July 5, 2026 — an AI-powered analysis of how Left and Right media covered the biggest stories this day.
More Headlines From July 5, 2026
- 'That wasn't a foul': Trump shares details of call with FIFA president (Center Left)
- Crowds Evacuated as Storms Menace Washington Ahead of Trump Speech (Center Left)
- Thunderstorms, heat and wind will hamper efforts to contain Colorado wildfires (Center)
- Johnson Keeps Passing the SAVE Act While Thune Keeps Waiting (Right)
- Belgium appeal against Fifa’s lifting of Folarin Balogun’s red card for US tie (Center Left)







