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President Donald Trump posted this Sunday on his platform Truth Social a message of gratitude to FIFA after it was announced that the organization revoked the red card of forward Folarin Balogun, an undeniable star of the United States national team in the 2026 World Cup.
"Thank you to FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice," Trump wrote in a brief but direct message that reflects the close attention the president has been giving to the tournament co-hosted by his country alongside Mexico and Canada.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee announced this Sunday the suspension of the sanction resulting from the direct red card that Balogun received in the 64th minute of the round of 16 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, held on July 1 at the Levi's Stadium in San Francisco.
The expulsion occurred after a VAR review due to an accidental stomp on the ankle of the Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic, an action that sparked intense debate among former referees and analysts about whether the foul warranted the maximum penalty.
FIFA based its decision on Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which allows for the total or partial suspension of a disciplinary measure.
The sanction is subject to a one-year probation period: if Balogun commits another offense of a similar nature and severity, it will be automatically applied.
This is about the first red card rescinded in the 2026 World Cup, an unprecedented decision that has sparked international controversy, with criticism regarding the potential influence of the host country on the organization's decisions.
Thanks to the measure, the forward from AS Monaco will be available for theRound of 16 match that the United States will play against Belgium this Monday, July 6 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Balogun, 25 years old, is the top scorer for his national team in the tournament with four goals in four matches.
The forward scored a historic hat-trick in his debut against Paraguay— the first by an American in a World Cup since Bert Patenaude in 1930— and netted the first goal against Bosnia before being sent off, in a match that the United States won 2-0 with ten men for over 25 minutes.
Trump has maintained an active involvement with the team throughout the tournament: he personally called coach Mauricio Pochettino and the team captain the night before their debut, and publicly congratulated the team after their 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
The president plans to attend the final of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where he hopes to see his team compete for the title.
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