Belgium Beats U.S. 4-1 After Trump Helps Overturn 1-Game Balogun Ban
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Jul 8
Belgium Beats U.S. 4-1 After Trump Helps Overturn 1-Game Balogun Ban
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Jul 8
Summary
Seattle saw the U.S. men’s team crash out 4-1 to Belgium after a standout World Cup run, with the Americans looking distracted and making costly mistakes.
A weekend call from President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino helped reverse Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension from a red card, putting the U.S. star back in the lineup.
Belgium appeared to use that intervention as fuel, posting “Overturn this” after the win and mocking Trump with his signature dance on the field and in the locker room.
The defeat ended what had been one of the strongest U.S. World Cup performances yet and intensified talk that Trump’s attempts to attach himself to sports success often backfire.