Trump Wins! FIFA Clears Balogun in Stunning World Cup U-Turn

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FIFA has dramatically cleared United States striker Folarin Balogun to face Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 after invoking a rarely used disciplinary provision, handing President Donald Trump a major victory following his furious public campaign against the player’s controversial red card.

The governing body suspended the enforcement of Balogun’s automatic one-match ban under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, allowing the Monaco forward to remain available for one of the tournament’s biggest knockout clashes. The suspension itself has not been erased but placed on probation for one year, meaning it could be activated if Balogun commits another serious disciplinary offence during that period.

The stunning U-turn came days after Trump launched an extraordinary attack on FIFA referees, branding Balogun’s dismissal “completely fake and unjust” and accusing football authorities of trying to sabotage the American team’s World Cup campaign.

In a fiery Truth Social post that quickly went viral, the U.S. President warned that if the decision was not overturned, America could reconsider hosting the World Cup, declaring: “We have the stadiums, we have the power, and we don’t need them—they need us!”

Reports indicate Trump also personally appealed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, urging a review of the controversial dismissal, a move that intensified global scrutiny before FIFA eventually invoked Article 27 to suspend the sanction.

The decision has ignited fierce controversy across world football, with the Belgian Football Association reportedly considering legal action, arguing that FIFA’s ruling undermines the principle of automatic suspensions following red cards at the World Cup.

Echoes of Garrincha’s famous escape
Balogun’s reprieve has inevitably revived memories of one of the most controversial disciplinary decisions in World Cup history.
At the 1962 tournament in Chile, Brazilian icon Garrincha was sent off in the semifinal against the host nation after retaliating following a heavy foul.
Under normal circumstances, the dismissal should have ruled him out of the final against Czechoslovakia.
Instead, Brazil successfully lobbied FIFA’s disciplinary committee to overturn the suspension, allowing Garrincha to return for the final, where he scored as Brazil retained the World Cup.

The decision has remained one of football’s greatest mysteries, surrounded by allegations of diplomatic pressure from the Brazilian government, claims of bribery, and the unexplained disappearance of a linesman who was expected to testify against Garrincha before FIFA’s disciplinary hearing.

Not the first extraordinary reprieve
Balogun’s case joins a select list of high-profile FIFA disciplinary reprieves.
In 2025, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo also benefited from Article 27 after receiving his first international red card in 226 appearances. FIFA suspended the enforcement of his ban, citing his exemplary disciplinary record.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA also amended Article 10, Paragraph 2 of the World Cup Competition Regulations to prevent suspensions accumulated during continental qualifiers from automatically carrying into the finals.

The rule change benefited stars including Moisés Caicedo of Ecuador and Argentina captain Nicolás Otamendi, both of whom were cleared to feature in their countries’ opening World Cup matches despite disciplinary issues during qualification.

Storm far from over
While American supporters have welcomed FIFA’s decision, critics argue that Balogun’s reprieve raises uncomfortable questions about whether football’s biggest governing body applies its disciplinary rules consistently when major stars, and powerful political figures, are involved.

For now, however, Trump’s public crusade appears to have achieved its immediate objective. Balogun is available. Belgium is furious. And FIFA has once again found itself at the centre of one of the World Cup’s most explosive controversies.