MSNBC host Katy Tur asserted that former President Donald Trump's intervention with FIFA to overturn a red-card suspension for U.S. men's national team star Folarin Balogun negatively impacted the team's performance and international perception.
Tur suggested on Tuesday that Trump's actions "made us look like cheaters" and "ruined the vibes" surrounding the U.S. men's team's World Cup campaign. The team's journey in the tournament concluded with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16.
"The U.S men’s team had captured America’s imagination and earned the respect of soccer fans around the world," Tur stated. "And then came Belgium and, according to the internet, Donald Trump."
Footage surfaced on social media of U.S. fans claiming Trump's intervention had "cursed" the team. Tur noted that the Americans appeared hesitant on the field during their match against Belgium. She posited that "global outrage over Trump’s call to FIFA might have weighed on them," observing a "heaviness on Flo Balogun’s shoulders" as he left the field.
The MSNBC host also pointed to instances of Belgium's team engaging in "Trump-trolling victory celebrations" and anti-Trump chants from Australian fans, highlighting how the situation shifted the narrative.
"This was supposed to be America’s moment, U.S. soccer’s moment, but instead of representing the rest of us, they spent the night answering for the worst of us," Tur concluded.