Belgium knocks U.S. out of World Cup with 4-1 victory amid red-card controversy

While the U.S. was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals, and a gaffe by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese gave Belgium a third goal early in the second half.

Romelu Lukaku added the fourth in stoppage time to complete ​Belgium’s emphatic victory.

The game followed a day of controversy, after FIFA ‌suspended striker Balogun’s red card ban, clearing him to play after U.S. President Donald Trump personally urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the case.

The unprecedented move on Sunday also thrust FIFA’s disciplinary process into the global spotlight and prompted an angry response from Belgium.

It also ensured that one of the tournament’s biggest talking points will centre not on tactics or team selection, but on the relationship between ​football’s governing body and political power.

Balogun scored his third ​goal of the World Cup in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina but was later sent off for planting his boot into the ⁠ankle of defender Tarik Muharemovic.

The 25-year-old was ⁠dismissed after a review, with U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino saying it was never a ‌red card offence.

Trump called Infantino to ask world soccer’s governing body to review the sending-off, according to a source briefed on the call.

The president spoke about the call Monday in response to reporter questions at a scheduled event at the Oval Office.

“All I did was ask for a review. I didn’t say ‘you have to do this,'” said Trump.

“I didn’t think it was a foul,” he added. “I thought it was two great athletes that crashed into each other and got entangled.”

Trump confirms he called FIFA to review U.S. red card 

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for a review of a red card given to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun last week. Following the phone call, FIFA suspended the red card, clearing Balogun to face Belgium in Monday’s World Cup match. The decision has been widely derided, with European soccer body UEFA calling it ‘unjustifiable.’

Trump attacks Brazilian referee

Trump also questioned the quality of refereeing by Brazil’s ‌Raphael Claus, who had sent Balogun off, saying he was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” He did not elaborate.

The Brazilian FA (CBF) joined in the chorus ​of criticism, rejecting any suggestion regarding the integrity of Claus.

“The CBF refutes any insinuation that casts doubt on Raphael Claus’s integrity. He is an exemplary professional, whose career is amply supported by technical assessments, consistent performance and the trust placed in him by the leading national and international competitions,” it said.

“This is our sport, not theirs,” said former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who is in talks to become the new Germany coach.

“If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it ⁠is madness; it calls everything into question. These two people, who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this.”

It is not the first time this year that FIFA has been accused of mixing ⁠politics with sport, with ⁠Infantino attending President Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in February and facing subsequent questions about ​the body’s political neutrality.

While allowing that Belgium has “a great team,” Trump said it would have been a “big stain” were the U.S. to lose Monday night with their top player out due to a debatable call.

“If we win or we lose [now], it’s fair,” he said.

Belgium loses appeal to FIFA, but continues to challenge decision

FIFA released a statement on Monday in which Infantino suggested it was not unusual to receive calls from heads of state, but said the decision was made by the soccer body’s independent disciplinary committee.

“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,” he said. “That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”

FIFA also dismissed Belgium’s challenge to Balogun’s eligibility as ‘inadmissible,’ leaving the European side to approach the U.S. Soccer Federation to contest his inclusion.

“The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal ​Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The ​request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”

The RBFA said it has informed the U.S. Soccer Federation that it contests Balogun’s eligibility, should the player be listed on the referee’s team ⁠sheet ahead of kickoff.

“This leaves all further actions open,” the RBFA added.

Belgium had requested a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring Balogun eligible as well as the referee’s report.

Red card not rescinded

FIFA is allowing Balogun to play without rescinding the red card.

“In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, ⁠the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

The judicial body has the discretion to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said in a social media post.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) had said it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to declare Balogun eligible to play in the match, pointing to the ⁠rule book.

“The decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 competition regulations,” it said in a statement.

Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot also expressed incredulity over ⁠the situation.

“If it was really this phone call behind this incomprehensible decision, then that would be ⁠flouting the most basic rules of football and sport,” Prevot said in a statement sent ⁠to ⁠reporters.

UEFA, European officials slam reversal

The Union of European Football Associations early Monday called the reversal “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” in a lengthy statement.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” the group said.

The decision also came in for criticism from the coaches of England and Norway, after their respective victories on Sunday, as well as Infantino’s predecessor, Sepp Blatter.

“Football must never become a playground for political power,” said Blatter, FIFA’s president from 1998 to 2015, in a post on X.

German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf said on Monday FIFA should issue a statement on the reports that the decision to overturn the ​red card was preceded by a telephone call ⁠between Trump and Infantino, adding: “The integrity of the competition and the credibility of FIFA are at stake.”

A 25-year-old who plays for Monaco, Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season. He has 12 goals in 30 international appearances. He was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents who were living in London and in 2023 opted to change his national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.

On Friday, Balogun said he thought a yellow card instead of red “would have been fair.”

— Thomson Reuters