Overview
- FIFA upheld its decision to rescind Folarín Balogun’s red-card suspension so he could play against Belgium, a move confirmed by tournament organizers and widely reported.
- President Trump said at a July 18 reception at Trump Tower that he had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and “recommended” removing Balogun’s ban, an account that updates and intensifies earlier statements that he merely asked for a review.
- Gianni Infantino publicly praised Trump at the same events, crediting him for the tournament’s success and highlighting FIFA’s reported record attendance of about 6.5 million and the expansion to 48 teams.
- Trump used the appearances to push for the U.S. to host another World Cup without Mexico and Canada and repeated a reported idea of a future U.S.–China co-hosting, proposals that could reshape FIFA’s bidding politics if pursued.
- The episode is entwined with broader tournament controversies — complaints about ticket prices, U.S. immigration enforcement affecting fans and delegations, and FIFA’s review of Argentine players’ political banners — all of which deepen calls for clearer, more transparent FIFA procedures and possible outside scrutiny.