# Trump called FIFA president to review Folarin Balogun's red card ahead of USA-Belgium match, source says

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-06 11:46 UTC · Category: Sports · Sources: 14 · Current Velocity: 14.97

## Executive Summary
A political storm has erupted after Donald Trump called the FIFA president to review U.S. star Folarin Balogun's red card suspension.

## Intelligence Brief
Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension before a match between the USA and Belgium. Following the call, FIFA lifted the suspension, a decision that has drawn criticism.


Coverage from the Wall Street Journal and Axios details the White House campaign to overturn the card, while CNN reports that the incident has stirred a political storm. CBS News highlights the criticism facing FIFA regarding the decision to reinstate the player.


Attention now turns to the legal response from the opposing side, as The New York Times reports that Belgium has been granted the right to appeal FIFA's decision to lift the ban.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### Who did Donald Trump call regarding the red card?
Trump called FIFA President Infantino.

### What was the result of the phone call?
FIFA lifted the red card suspension for U.S. player Folarin Balogun.

### How has Belgium responded to the decision?
Belgium has been granted the right to appeal the decision to lift Balogun's ban.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Trump, FIFA, Belgium, Folarin Balogun, Overturn, USA-Belgium, Inside the White House Campaign, World Cup Red Card

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Jazeera | Why FIFA’s Balogun red card suspension after Trump call is so controversial | 2026-07-06 20:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitwFBVV95cUxOYXdzcTJfVW1KdHpEMmROUm5hR2NNRFgwOUNRMnV0aG5GbDcxNnAzbVdBWGdxRXcyemFwaE1LZmMxblFDb0l4WklXWTdCTV9DMG14MGZHMTQ3MkdWakc4NG5fcDhLejlWOWhaNlZYSmZLZnIyU0JKaWlTYkhpa3JITnJtUDhCQVZsc2hxZEhTVGJtQk5NeG9ZWEZIREZ2WHZjRWduUjBrdEJZclkzcFJsZHFxM1NRNUnSAbwBQVVfeXFMTU5hYnhwY193WTdpd3NNcWdKZ1dSeEI0LUFXMTlCZHo3bWN6S0libjFMNkRta1RzWGpfcDZRNWJzMl9DY3FtUHB1WkFnSjg0Q0F6UnpYa1NZbkdiQ2RwMy1IeGswQ1k0SnAyV3U1MG5xdXBfN1otRXhEQlhWQ1ZuMWRIRVV4QVRHeGplRER0dVg4VzhOcEhMeTQtUkh) |
| Politico | Revenge of the ‘hellhole’: Belgium eyes payback in US World Cup clash | 2026-07-06 20:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxNSnhpUkV5TVg2X01TanlQWF8xSEV6TU1KNGhvRVNYaG9GR05FYnBxRUpVY0VWbjNpTFRMYjVXdWc0V0Y0NkNyRUtyTk1PbjB0OUU2ZXB6Z1FieThwck5QNmdFTkM2NkRWT0Y1dVVqMjZfc3UtZ2MxN0N4S05uLXVJMXlGYmhfV095dHdLWVlPOFJwOFJYSUs4R0VmNDJMcUV1LXV2SE9aV0pfeVBnMXc?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | Balogun Brouhaha Turns a National TV Sports Moment of Unity Into a Moment of Division (Again) | 2026-07-06 20:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxPOVVhTnhfMVhIdEFLMVFNVnBpUFlqcWRDNngtR2hKTUZBek9walJPT1FzSkVMTS11Q0pMS1ZXTGhSY0JPY2FOanJsQlJQT29JaWpWSTg3Z0hXUkV1N2JFMVB6NFZ5THk5RERJdk54LWtfcC05V1dEUVo0Z1ozT2tIQ25KbkRTMTVGTVdRbkMwclFENDZSRU5CX3RONlBPZEN3RHpXYjdPTTBCN0dPWXdr?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | Trump confirms he asked Infantino for review of Folarin Balogun red card | 2026-07-06 20:37 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxOZmlJbTJGa3loTDBvbTJ6Qy0xRTBDcmJKNUlTQ0o4eDZuNC1IelJGQ2pLVUgzZW51Y2NQQTAtNFJNSkRSaTdiRzdaaUo3UHNGY3RvMndfbHQwZTBpd1otMUFpYVgtQ0JwREhscGhPZ1ZWRmtQSXdqMWN4OGxmakItZ0tiWDE5ZUZFMmY4SHZ0X0hOTXB6TGJkU0dYcUg?oc=5) |
| UEFA.com | UEFA statement on the Balogun case | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxQdXlPYl9zZUMyVWctd19XLVlyN2w5UDBSQmNiS3lqUmJpSnY0MVpGSk1RandNYXI4N04xYzJGU3R4Zy1VaWZhdUR5MEY2OV80aTFBQlVzUjQxcTk0MVJ1akFXeVpjZGFCdTVOU0ZDRlozYjBMbnQxd2U5T0lRWG1TT2QyVWNHSlpwUlk3OVMxdUJpMUVxZXlIbHdLR3hhTUdWYUFfQjUzZGZqbW5EUnc?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | FIFA's mismanagement of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension mars USMNT’s big moment, and World Cup at large | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxOa3Q3MlFaZWZyaUVKSVBjM2h3azRTX3VSRmtNWndYbXRaQ0JaaDZlSkVVTENlLWtyM2d0amU5SDBUYzdvZ0lCT0tQR1J6aUQ0X1ZlZzFaTUtGTjRmM0JyWWV3eGpYOUtoV3ZXZlVud2xFTEFCMldJeDlQQmx6TjVmX2M3emtsRUlUS2dzRU9hWU54blUySTZmaUJNTmU2QQ?oc=5) |
| Politico | Mamdani stays mum on Balogun controversy | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxQWlA5VEpkYzFaVkMtZmlVMlN0OGpySS1oR1hDNVhJT3RnR2Y0QmRZTnEzeS0xRDhwU2lBMWRLZ3NvaWw1SnU1Z3FUZDhpRHk5QVhWblRoN2wtSG92VHRUa0xpUWxoYnBRby14elU3TmgtZFh3bjhCa2MtcUZkZXJodU9PR0VoeERiRXVEWk9wNFRMLVRYZHV5VkMxTWJtY2VaN0JmZEJFcGNSSDFZTEVERTREcGc5VGVvNzlsUXV1ckoxakQzN1JDTlJFZ080dlE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | World Cup 2026: Belgium has appeal denied after FIFA reversed USMNT's Folarin Balogun 1-game ban after red card | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi9wFBVV95cUxOUTFXUEhwUENCV1oxNG4tZlR6VEdIR3dKSXAyY09iMDJOYTV0VWNHdUJtVlh1SkhkVnY3STRNSXNSZUtNTG8xYmFwZlRSN0RYTFBHZUY4SWU5RzUyTEdkZVMyUnJoM2NndHJsY1dkN3EyRlJlRUJSbnR3SWhUOFE3UjBoUEFleFVyWEJHa3g1bVRueGQxTHg3Q05RUVJtaTBLYVhOZVdBNlFvUTR3b0JYOU16Y2JhUkVGQ2F0RG40ZmQtM2lyNXBDWWswTUxvTHZya01lZ2RtQVd2SE5nUWJlRUtsQW11dFBscGRrRE5GbWdydmdVX0tJ?oc=5) |
| ESPN | FIFA reject Belgium request; Balogun still clear to play vs. Belgium | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxNQy1MWmEyTU54R0J6MjB4clBIYkM3bzhhdFJ4V0Zmam5Ud0xzbmZMcC1haTNBdEdKT2toMndfLXVPUnk0MkF2MDZDYlhCcFMzTWcxTTljN041VlJZLWtSMHZQMHRxWXB0VTlSYkh5b3E0UnVOZkpMOVZraVo3Y3FJeEgtMElxSWx1aTJhcXZ1M05LODNpTEMwNFVWZVZCZzBWUXk4cw?oc=5) |
| Al Jazeera | Why FIFA’s Balogun red card suspension after Trump call is so controversial | 2026-07-06 17:51 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPQUZkNjBFVThrWUt1UUVyLXlWQ0RZc2hCTU5yc2hmd3p6U1IwTnNLLWxHNDk5dG4zcG1PaTJ2ZERyM1VIUjlyN2kyX1owXy1QS2VheF9id0dNM0VBTXFNUWJYNzF6X3FBLTZSRXZMUVF1OGRXZ01hellBVnE4TWxEYXNwb0lpT3hOWmZNVmFsUmlZbGl6dHVoOUZ4OVZsOHlraEdmZkZwa21EY2o2emVRUDI3aHjSAboBQVVfeXFMTmZkeHVlQ1RHX2pkSUZxVkQwZW1XZWZVOS1IQUVWdVFYaVFqZFVTQldFdm5wSmlwRFA3NHVLVWE2LUVqOEhaMnA2QTY5OERrSFdFUXkzVHpFRFMtSWhVRndFdzJhVVA3a1RlaGNOVVg1TXBwRS12OHVzbjhmSUtYaExwNGxwUEFUUzJLTmplV3NkeVA2QllGT1BxMHo5TXl) |
| WSJ | Inside the White House Campaign to Overturn a World Cup Red Card | 2026-07-06 09:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxOOTJQVmc0NWpuQ0J6M04tS3NCSUgxX1R0bk16Ui1YOEI0VkJDaXU4YVExT3NBX3lPU21HWkYxaXVKMnc1UVV5RGU4bXJfZlQ1c3RTeHhEbUEzRGlqRGpHbnQwZEpxd0dvRU5ReWhEeGV5Umh3a1M2Si1MRWsyeVF6M0I1eHVqYUYtTDNfRTB3cw?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | Belgium granted right to appeal against FIFA’s Folarin Balogun ban decision | 2026-07-06 09:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilwFBVV95cUxQX1dHODBxWEdXanZmUWhEck00WjdlcmUxaWEzMUlvMy16M04wNnRyaTZsNWtGU3FoZzB2ZzFfUUdlNTVabmpyaHdIQm4zSFJhSlF3emdFWWxLV3A4NUJqR0xPVHpiTUVMcVE2VjhJaVhOOG9fbFA2Znl3elRaM0tjdy1HLTA4OVpiM21qaktna25yRFZwMlQw?oc=5) |
| CBS News | FIFA criticized for decision to lift U.S. star's red card suspension following Trump phone call | 2026-07-06 09:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxNdkpJOFYwOUNiaHdJRWRBWnFTMHp2YmpKRE5VaVp6SzQwalpxNG5PSnJpYm9NQ3pUZzhrYTlRMGFkQ091eFM1eTRvQVF6TmVkVkV5d0RJN1QwMHo4QUtqRFZZSWlGVjlkOUFKWTBpSFNDZWhIbG5QTjVIMDg1Z0VfaWRNU0VrcUc4aFdXeXBn?oc=5) |
| CNN | Trump’s red card call stirs political storm around World Cup | 2026-07-06 09:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxNcktsakl4bTdXYnl1ZHg0LVp3WTNLeWRQR0ZNQkRDRXJkUDF1bF9zNnFwVUE1M1dtVGtmVVdxYndPNlhvQ2hmT1lNeVRycWN5QkctV2VlMEFNdjdHYmVGem1JMk03NEk3c2dsTVV1MHlwRkJfRWl5bDR6TEliZUl3ckh4V0liRjFYQm5GTVJpcjhub0NPaUE?oc=5) |
| Axios | Trump called FIFA's Infantino over Balogun suspension | 2026-07-06 09:03 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxOQUN5Q1JxeHp3TFR6Zm5ZTEJBTUZkckloYjhiSTJ6dlR4OHViWHlBUU9ta1lkazlJdE9jSVVfNy12WUFmcW9mOFgzMEpNV3NIdnNYYlhVTXhRd1BFbmQxSVhicTBRZHdrOWxqWEo1c09IeEJWdHNpX2pwUjhLX05VcTE2a25fQQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://www.newsylist.com/trend/2026-07-06/trump-called-fifa-president-to-review-folarin-balogun-s-red-card-ahead-of-usa*
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