White House made direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s red card

Breaking News: President Trump called the head of FIFA days before the suspension of Folarin Balogun, the U.S.’s top goal scorer in the World Cup, was reversed. https://t.co/bMp27wl79X

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 5, 2026

🚨 Exclusive: The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card.

FIFA approached for comment and referred to the findings of its independent committee.

FIFA sources insist White House influence could not affect the decision… pic.twitter.com/Rl97b1wm4X

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 5, 2026

The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card.

FIFA approached for comment and referred to the findings of its independent committee.

FIFA sources insist White House influence could not affect the decision due to the powers contained in Article 27 and the independent nature of the disciplinary panel.

FIFA insist the White House couldn’t influence their independent disciplinary panel despite a direct call.

The expectation is written reasons behind the suspended ban are published.⬇️ https://t.co/L638P6BMaH

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 5, 2026

The reversal is highly unusual and is the first time since 1962 that FIFA has allowed a player to appear in a game when they would have been suspended after being sent off in the World Cup. Mr. Infantino has spent years trying to curry favor with Mr. Trump. Last year, FIFA created and gave Mr. Trump the FIFA Peace Prize amid the president’s public, but failed, campaign to win the Nobel Peace Prize.