.
United States President Donald Trump has sparked another wave of controversy ahead of the country’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 showdown against Belgium, declaring that if the Americans lose the match, he would say it was “rigged.”
The remarks came during an event at the White House where Trump was responding to questions about the growing controversy surrounding the eligibility of United States striker Folarin Balogun. The Arsenal forward was initially suspended after receiving a red card in the previous knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina before FIFA later overturned the automatic one-match ban following an appeal.
Speaking confidently about the upcoming contest, Trump insisted that both nations should compete with their strongest available squads.
“We’re going to have a full team, Belgium is going to have a full team,” Trump said. “If they beat us, they can be really proud. The other way, if they beat us, we’ll say it was rigged.”
His comment echoed his long-standing claims about the 2020 United States presidential election and immediately generated widespread discussion across the sporting world, with many interpreting it as another politically charged statement made during one of football’s biggest tournaments.
The controversy surrounding Balogun has dominated headlines in recent days after FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the enforcement of his automatic one-match ban, allowing the striker to feature against Belgium.
Balogun had been dismissed during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina following a challenge that match officials considered worthy of a straight red card. Under FIFA regulations, such dismissals usually carry an automatic suspension for the next game.
However, the United States Soccer Federation appealed the decision, arguing that the incident had been wrongly interpreted and that available evidence supported a review. FIFA eventually accepted the appeal and placed the suspension on probation, making the striker available for selection in the knockout encounter.
The decision quickly divided opinion throughout international football.
Belgian football authorities questioned the ruling and challenged Balogun’s eligibility, arguing that overturning such a suspension during the World Cup raised concerns about consistency and fairness in FIFA’s disciplinary process. Their protest, however, was rejected, allowing the American forward to remain eligible for the high-stakes encounter.
Trump also acknowledged that he personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the disciplinary decision, although he denied influencing the final verdict.
According to the US president, his intervention was aimed only at ensuring that the appeal received proper consideration rather than directing FIFA to reach a particular outcome.
“I asked for a review by FIFA,” Trump explained. “I had nothing to do with the decision.”
He argued that Balogun’s challenge was simply an accidental collision between two players rather than violent conduct deserving of an additional suspension.
Trump further questioned the fairness of punishing a player beyond the match in which the offence occurred, insisting that football fans deserve to watch the biggest stars on the field during the World Cup.
His comments have fuelled debate over whether political leaders should become involved in decisions made by independent sporting governing bodies.
The issue has attracted criticism from several football stakeholders across Europe.
Officials within UEFA and members of a number of European football associations have argued that disciplinary decisions should remain free from political influence, warning that exceptions could undermine confidence in the integrity of international competitions.
Belgium’s football federation maintained that FIFA’s decision set a worrying precedent, even though its formal appeal against Balogun’s eligibility was dismissed.
Former football administrators and analysts have also questioned whether the controversy could damage public trust in the consistency of disciplinary rulings during major tournaments.
Despite the growing debate, the focus now shifts to the field where the United States and Belgium meet for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Balogun’s availability is regarded as a major boost for the American side, with the striker emerging as one of the team’s most influential attacking players during the tournament.
Belgium, meanwhile, enters the match determined to block out the off-field distractions and concentrate solely on securing victory.
The encounter has already become one of the most talked-about fixtures of the World Cup, not only because of the footballing rivalry but also due to the extraordinary political attention surrounding it.
Whether Trump’s comments were intended as humour or political messaging, they have added another layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated knockout clash.
With kickoff approaching, attention will now turn from press conferences and controversy to events on the pitch, where both teams will attempt to settle matters through football rather than headlines.
