U.S. World Cup striker Folarin Balogun said President Donald Trump's intervention to overturn a red card ultimately made his team's path more challenging, despite his appreciation for being allowed to play.
Balogun received a red card during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on an opponent's ankle, an offense typically resulting in a one-game suspension. Balogun expressed surprise at the call, telling "CBS Mornings" that the incident was unintentional and should not have resulted in a red card. He described the situation as unfortunate and a source of unnecessary pressure.
Tournament rules indicated Balogun would miss the subsequent game against Belgium. However, President Trump successfully intervened to have the red card rescinded, allowing Balogun to participate. Trump later commented that he would have accused the tournament of being rigged, similar to the 2020 election, had the U.S. lost to Belgium without Balogun on the field.
Balogun acknowledged that Trump's involvement created controversy and made things difficult for the U.S. Men's National Team. He recalled his initial happiness at rejoining the team, followed by the realization that the situation would be contentious. "I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something that’s so unique," Balogun stated. He added that despite trying to focus, the "outside noise" generated by the repealed card was hard to ignore.
While the decision pleased U.S. fans, it drew criticism from many others. Balogun noted that his teammates offered reassurance during this period. Despite the external distractions, the team ultimately lost to Belgium, 4-1. Balogun maintained that the team was focused on the game itself and capable of separating emotions from their performance, suggesting that the difficult nature of the game against Belgium might overshadow the team's concentration.
Despite the controversy surrounding the red card repeal, Balogun expressed his hope to represent the U.S. in the 2030 World Cup.