Former President Donald Trump suggested he would have utilized tactics similar to those employed in the 2020 election if FIFA had not reversed a red card ruling that could have suspended a U.S. player during a World Cup match. The comment came after FIFA lifted a suspension for Folarin Balogun, who received a red card in a game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
According to reports, Balogun was initially set to miss a subsequent match against Belgium. However, FIFA reviewed the call and rescinded the suspension on Sunday, a decision Trump stated he had requested. He told reporters, "All I did was ask for a review," adding that he did not instruct officials to overturn the call.
Despite his assertion, Trump later made a statement that implied a willingness to challenge the outcome if the U.S. team had lost. "The game tonight is going to be amazing," Trump said. "And we’re going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team, and you know what? If they beat us, then they can be really proud. The other way, if they beat us, I say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020."
This statement drew attention and criticism, with some social media users interpreting his remarks as an admission that he would have attempted to influence the game's outcome, drawing a parallel to his unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. The remarks have been widely discussed in light of the debunked nature of his previous election fraud allegations.