U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review Folarin Balogun's suspension at the World Cup after the American striker was red-carded against Bosnia and Herzegovina, sources told Tyler Pager and Tariq Panja of The Athletic.
Balogun was sent off in the second half of the United States' 2-0 win on July 1. Trump called Infantino that night, according to Pager and Panja.
FIFA announced Sunday that Balogun's one-match ban, which is standard protocol when a player is red-carded at the World Cup, was "suspended for a probationary period of one year." That makes him eligible to play in Monday's round-of-16 encounter against Belgium.
Trump weighed in after the unusual decision, saying on Truth Social: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
He did not take credit for the decision.
Infantino and Trump have become increasingly close in recent years. The former created the FIFA Peace Prize that was bestowed on the U.S. president on stage during the draw for this summer's competition.
Automatic World Cup match suspensions like Balogun's cannot be appealed under FIFA rules, though the governing body's disciplinary committee can "fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."
The Belgian football federation said Sunday it was "astonished" by FIFA's decision.
Balogun is the United States' leading scorer at the 2026 World Cup with three goals. A win over Belgium on Monday in Seattle would send the U.S. to the quarterfinals at a men's World Cup for the first time since 2002.
