Following their dominant 4-1 World Cup victory over the United States, the Belgian team engaged in a pointed social media post and mimicked President Donald Trump's dance moves, seemingly mocking both the U.S. and the president himself. The actions came after a controversy surrounding a one-match ban for American player Folarin Balogun.

Within 20 minutes of the final whistle, the Belgian national team's official X account posted, "Overturn this," accompanied by a photo of player Romelu Lukaku celebrating a goal. This post was widely interpreted as a jab at FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's ban, a decision that reportedly involved intervention from President Trump.

Player Ban Controversy

The dispute began when Balogun received a red card during the USA's Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have resulted in a suspension for the subsequent Round of 16 game against Belgium. However, FIFA overturned the suspension, allowing Balogun to play. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) protested the decision, filing an appeal that was ultimately rejected by FIFA on the day of the match.

In a statement, the RBFA expressed its dissatisfaction, noting that it had not received the grounds for FIFA's decision and had been requesting information since the procedure began, which they considered a breach of FIFA regulations. The RBFA had informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contested Balogun's eligibility if he was listed on the team sheet, leaving open the possibility of further action, including potential legal challenges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Trump's Involvement

President Trump confirmed he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's ban. "I asked for a review by FIFA," Trump stated. "That's all I did. And, you know, again, I'm good at this stuff. That wasn't a foul. That wasn't even an infraction. That was two guys running full speed who happened to crash into each other."

Infantino acknowledged the call, stating he regularly discusses World Cup matters with heads of state. He explained that he informed Trump about the ongoing legal processes within FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided by the competent bodies. "That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold," Infantino said.

On-Field Mockery

Adding to the post-match commentary, Belgian players were seen on broadcast mimicking the hand-jerking, hip-shimmying dance moves popularized by President Trump during his 2024 election campaign. This occurred after Lukaku scored Belgium's fourth goal in stoppage time. Belgian coach Rudi Garcia offered a veiled critique of the situation, referring to the day as "April Fool's Day" and stating, "We are defending football – its ethics and history."