U.S. World Cup run was going well until Trump interfered

Donald Trump has to interfere with everything, and it seems that FIFA President Gianni Infantino will spare no effort to please the narcissistic American leader.  You may recall that Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World.  The prize is intended to pay tribute to a person who has undertaken "exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace" and have contributed to global unity, but Trump has done quite the opposite.  He has achieved nothing like former President Jimmy Carter's Camp David Accord, a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, or Carter's work with Habitats for Humanity (Can you imagine Trump building homes for those in need?).

Jimmy Carter deservedly won the 2002 Nobel Prize "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."  Unlike crybaby Trump, Carter did not lobby for the Nobel Peace Prize.  He did not brag about how he deserved it.

How ridiculous that Trump is seen by some as a peacemaker.  He has failed to stop any war, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which continue to rage on.  He also provoked a costly, illegal and unnecessary war with Iran.  Nevertheless, on December 5, 2025, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump at the FIFA World Cup Draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Gianni Infantino

Fast forward.  It is July of 2026 and we are in the midst of the quadrennial FIFA World Cup.  It is being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.  The U.S. was eliminated from the competition after losing 4-1 to Belgium yesterday.  The loss came after a controversy regarding a player on the American team who had been originally banned from the game after receiving a red card in a previous match.

The player in question is Folarin Balogun.  He was born in Brooklyn, New York in 2001 to Nigerian parents.  At the time, his parents were residing in London.  They visited New York when his mother was seven months pregnant with Folarin.  Airline staff refused to allow her to board the return flight to London due safety concerns surrounding the advanced state of her pregnancy.  Thus, Folarin was born in the United States.  The family returned to the United Kingdom and Folarin was raised in London,  

Born in the U.S. to Nigerian parents and raised in London, Folarin Balogun was eligible to represent the United States, Nigeria or England in international competition.  He chose the U.S.  Isn't it ironic that Trump wants to end birthright citizenship, which would preclude Balogun from representing the United States.?  

Folarin Balogun

Balogun received a one-game suspension after receiving a red card in the U.S.'s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Round 32 of the World Cup.  Trump, of course, called FIFA's President Infantino and what do you know, the ban was overturned.  Surprise!  Surprise!

Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically results in a one-game ban, and the player's team is not permitted to appeal the ban.  Nevertheless, Balogun was allowed to play an Seattle against Belgium.  FIFA had dismissed Belgium appeal to void its decision to void Balogun's suspension, paving the way for the U.S. national team's striker to compete in yesterday's match.  The Americans lost anyway, despite Trump's meddling, or perhaps because of it.  It may have motivated the Belgium team.

- Joanne