President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he called FIFA to help overturn a controversial red card against U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun ahead of the crucial match against Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The intervention came after Trump expressed his astonishment at the tournament's soaring TV ratings, which are expected to reach Super Bowl-like numbers.
Trump's Intervention in FIFA's Decision
During an event in the Oval Office, Trump stated, "I did, I spoke to Gianni Infantino, who’s highly respected, who’s produced the most successful World Cup in history. So yes, I asked for a review by FIFA." His call followed a contentious red card issued to Balogun during a previous match.
Trump argued that the incident was not an infraction, describing it as "two guys running full speed that happened to crash into each other." His appeal led to FIFA suspending the red card decision, allowing Balogun to participate in the match against Belgium.
FIFA's Response to Trump's Call
In response to Trump's call, FIFA released a statement from Infantino, emphasizing the independence of FIFA's judicial bodies: "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them." Infantino acknowledged his regular discussions with world leaders, including Trump.
Infantino explained, "During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies." This highlights FIFA's commitment to maintaining its regulatory framework.
World Cup Ratings Surge
Trump also took the opportunity to highlight the impressive viewership numbers for the World Cup. He mentioned, "This isn’t just a success; I actually said, Gianni, we’ve got all these games, each one is turning out to be a Super Bowl." He noted that the ratings are expected to attract between 50 to 60 million viewers for the match tonight.
The last U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina saw an average of 24.43 million viewers on Fox, marking the largest English-language TV audience for any soccer match in the U.S. Additionally, Telemundo and Peacock recorded an extra 9.1 million viewers for the Spanish-language broadcast, with Telemundo's viewership more than doubling from 2022.
- Trump's call to FIFA led to Balogun's participation in the match.
- World Cup ratings are projected to reach 50-60 million viewers.
- Last U.S. match averaged 24.43 million viewers on Fox.
- Telemundo and Peacock drew an additional 9.1 million viewers.
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