Trump Intervenes: US Star Reinstated for World Cup Clash
Part of composite article Trump’s Phone Call Backfires as USA Hammered 4-1 by Belgium in World Cup Exit View full article →
For 24 days, the 2026 World Cup in America seemed to have achieved a rare feat: avoiding any connection to former President Donald Trump. That changed on Monday.
In an extraordinary twist, star US goal-scorer Folarin Balogun will play in the knockout match against Belgium. The decision came after a personal appeal from Trump overturned Balogun’s red card suspension.
The president’s intervention has stirred a political storm, raising questions about fairness and influence in international sports. Balogun was originally sent off in a previous game. Now, he is cleared to lead the US attack in a critical World Cup fixture.