After an appeal to FIFA from a team compiled by President Donald Trump and members of his administration, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team’s star striker Folarin Balogun has had his red card suspension overturned.
Sources: President Trump, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House task force head Andrew Giuliani put together a team of elite lawyers — from outside the government — to challenge the Flo Balogun red card. Specifically they challenged the use of slow motion instant…
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) July 5, 2026
Donald Trump thanks FIFA for reversing the one-game red-card ban of USA striker Folarin Balogun:
— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 5, 2026
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” pic.twitter.com/N0tUkVp6yC
Balogun, who has scored one third of America’s goals in the World Cup, will now be available for Monday’s match against Belgium after he was previously subjected to an automatic one-game suspension for the red card that FIFA officials confirm was improperly dealt to Balogun. FIFA regulations dictate that video assistant referee (VAR) cannot be used to administer red cards when on-field officials have not acknowledged that a foul has taken place on the field.
Not even a foul for Messi:
— Banter FC (@TheFCBanter) July 2, 2026
Straight red card for Balogun: pic.twitter.com/tceUjAQZ3G
Belgian officials are livid that the suspension was lifted and that they will be forced to play against the best U.S. squad ever assembled.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The Royal Belgian Football Association has released a statement in regard to Folarin Balogun being able to play against them.
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) July 5, 2026
"The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin… pic.twitter.com/mijdWcVIz7
Meanwhile, supporters of the U.S. are ecstatic about the beneficial turn-of-events. Countless memes of President Trump’s effort to correct the injustice have gone viral online.
“So then I called FIFA and said, ‘Folarin Balogun plays on Monday or ICE deports the entire Belgium team,’ and that’s how I got his red card reversed.” https://t.co/kQ9qB5Df5V pic.twitter.com/ex42QBelM7
— Prison Mitch (@Prisonmitch) July 5, 2026
USMNT fans seeing that Folarin Balogun can play against Belgium pic.twitter.com/fxQHAUSPgZ
— . (@tosinmm_) July 5, 2026
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/cdgUHNdfpZ
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) July 5, 2026
This is who USA sent to talk to FIFA about Folarin Balogun’s red card pic.twitter.com/QsisUMzWCs
— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) July 5, 2026
T, it’s done. Balogun’s red card ain’t gonna be a problem no more https://t.co/OKzxzRayxd pic.twitter.com/C1JPaqdTE6
— Sopranos World (@SopranosWorld) July 5, 2026
“This won’t get overturned...”
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) July 5, 2026
“You must be new here…”
“Stick to NFL…”
BALOGUN IS FREEEE 🇺🇸🦅 pic.twitter.com/EZdpn1UxFY
How USA will play against Belgium now that they have Donald Trump's presidential red card immunity
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) July 5, 2026
pic.twitter.com/cVKHjaC70w
Told you. https://t.co/tc0aEyPdDS
— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) July 5, 2026
Say what you want about Trump but I don’t think Kamala Harris would’ve gotten that red card reversed https://t.co/M4hSjHqudp
— greg (@greg16676935420) July 5, 2026
"Listen, I don't even care about your dumb little sport, but you did see what I did to Maduro, right?" https://t.co/Ir4lNBaASA pic.twitter.com/0ymzvsVJvO
— Flappr (@flapprdotnet) July 5, 2026
I’M CRYING 😂😂
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) July 5, 2026
pic.twitter.com/NBWI5rgnTA
I don’t even care about soccer. I’m in this to see Europeans get angry. https://t.co/fW6q047rV9
— Magills (@magills_) July 5, 2026
Some leftists are calling on Balogun to sit out of the match in name of "sportsmanship," but are only pleading for the suicidal decision out of hatred for Trump.
I obviously want the @USMNT to win against Belgium. But this seems correct to me: this would be the right thing for @balogun to do. To reject the unfair (dodgy?) intervention from @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/JgqBjvZC61
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 5, 2026
The U.S. will play Belgium in their Round of 16 at 8:00 PM Eastern on Monday.
