Former U.S. President Donald Trump has praised England captain Harry Kane, calling him a "GREAT player!!!" on his social media platform Truth Social. The acclaim came after Kane scored a penalty to secure England's 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico in the 2026 World Cup. The match, held at the Azteca Stadium, was delayed due to thunderstorms and took place amidst concerns about heat and altitude.
England secured their spot in the World Cup quarter-finals with the win. Jude Bellingham scored twice in the first half, and Kane added a penalty, while Raul Jimenez converted a late penalty for Mexico. The match has been described as an instant World Cup classic and one of England's greatest victories in the tournament's history. England is set to face Norway in their quarter-final match in Miami.
Trump's interest in the 2026 World Cup is significant, as the United States is a co-host along with Mexico and Canada, with the majority of matches scheduled to take place in the U.S. The final is slated for July 19 at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
The former president also commented on the FIFA decision to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play in the quarter-finals against Belgium despite a red card in a previous match. Balogun, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up in London, had faced a one-match suspension. However, FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the implementation of the ban for a probationary period of one year, a decision Trump celebrated on Truth Social as "doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" A FIFA statement confirmed the probationary measure, noting that the suspension would be enforced if Balogun committed a similar infringement within the year.
This probationary measure for Balogun mirrors a similar decision made for Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, whose suspension for violent conduct was partially suspended on a one-year probation, allowing him to play in the current tournament. Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have developed a public friendship, with Infantino having previously awarded Trump an inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.