Call it “Balogun-Gate.”
The debate over whether Folarin Balogun’s suspension should have been overturned is generating some of the wildest sports media hot takes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the young U.S. men’s national team star now set to take the pitch tonight against Belgium in the critical Round of 16 match, media fulminations over his last-minute reprieve are shattering brick and concrete.
It started with President Donald Trump’s involvement in getting FIFA to review the one-game suspension against the U.S. striker for fouling Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Team USA’s 2-0 Round of 32 victory.
Yes, it appears that Trump is strong-arming FIFA. True, that red card was a dubious call against Team USA’s best player. But our polarizing president is reviled in much of the media. The thought of Trump clumsily intervening in the beautiful game drove some from the soccer establishment into a pearl-clutching frenzy on Monday.
The debate over whether Folarin Balogun’s suspension should have been overturned is generating some of the wildest sports media hot takes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the young U.S. men’s national team star now set to take the pitch tonight against Belgium in the critical Round of 16 match, media fulminations over his last-minute reprieve are shattering brick and concrete.
It started with President Donald Trump’s involvement in getting FIFA to review the one-game suspension against the U.S. striker for fouling Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Team USA’s 2-0 Round of 32 victory.
Yes, it appears that Trump is strong-arming FIFA. True, that red card was a dubious call against Team USA’s best player. But our polarizing president is reviled in much of the media. The thought of Trump clumsily intervening in the beautiful game drove some from the soccer establishment into a pearl-clutching frenzy on Monday.
4 months ago
