Megan Rapinoe, a former star of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, has attributed the U.S. men's soccer team's loss in the World Cup to former President Donald Trump's interference. Rapinoe stated on "The Daily Show" that Trump's involvement disrupted the team's "underdog vibe" and ultimately affected their performance.
During an interview, Rapinoe discussed a red card incident involving U.S. player Folarin Balogun, which was reportedly influenced by a call Trump made to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Rapinoe suggested that this situation, along with the public discourse surrounding Trump's involvement, acted as a significant distraction for the team.
"I think the distraction got to the team for sure in some type of way," Rapinoe said. "Whether it was, you know, this red card situation, whether it was being in a public discourse with this president, all of the, you know, shenanigans and chaos that comes with the feelings on both sides of that."
Rapinoe noted that the men's team lacked veteran players accustomed to such external pressures. She also commented on the general tendency in men's football for players not to actively use their platforms to broaden their scope of influence or responsibility.
Folarin Balogun himself acknowledged the impact of the "outside noise" leading up to the match against Belgium. He stated that while initially happy to be back on the team, he anticipated the controversy and observed nerves among his teammates as the game approached. Balogun added that he tried to focus but found the external distractions difficult to avoid.
The U.S. men's national team ultimately lost to Belgium in the Round of 16 following the red card controversy.
A White House spokesperson, Davis Ingle, offered a contrasting perspective, stating that Trump's "bold vision and decisive leadership" generated billions in revenue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, created economic boosts, and delivered a seamless experience for fans and athletes, deeming it "one of the greatest and most successful sporting events in history."