U.S. President Donald Trump made a phone call that broke a World Cup disciplinary precedent. According to three sources familiar with the matter, Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on July 1, requesting a review of the red card suspension handed to US forward Balogun during the round of 32 match against Bosnia.
The Red Card Incident: Stomping on Opponent's Foot
Balogun was sent off in the 2-0 win over Bosnia for stepping on an opponent's foot. The automatic one-match ban would have sidelined him for the next group game, a major blow to the US attack as the team's top scorer.
FIFA Ruling: Suspension Deferred for One Year
On July 5, FIFA announced its disciplinary decision: a one-match suspension under Articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, but with the penalty deferred for one year under Article 27 on “suspension of execution.” Balogun is now eligible to play against Belgium on Monday. This marks the first time since 1962 that FIFA has allowed a player facing a mandatory ban to take the field.
Trump's Phone Diplomacy
This is not the first instance of Trump intervening in World Cup matters. Earlier in July, he met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit to discuss schedule arrangements. Reuters also reported plans for a call with Vladimir Putin after meeting Zelensky to push for an end to the war. Trump welcomed FIFA's decision on social media but did not mention his call to Infantino.
Prediction Markets Surge
The prediction market for the World Cup winner on Polymarket has surpassed $3.9 billion in cumulative trading volume. France leads with a 35.1% probability of winning, followed by Argentina at 16.8%. The US team's odds have yet to be published, but Balogun's return is expected to boost market sentiment.