USA knocked out of World Cup amid Balogun controversy and backlash against FIFA

The United States men's national soccer team has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, falling to Belgium with a 4-1 loss in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6, 2026. This defeat marked the end of their World Cup campaign, which had seen them advance as a co-host nation.

The team's exit was overshadowed by a significant controversy surrounding striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had received a red card in a prior match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which typically incurs an automatic one-game suspension. However, FIFA controversially suspended this ban, allowing him to play against Belgium, a decision that reportedly followed calls made by former U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

This unprecedented move by FIFA sparked widespread criticism and backlash from various football bodies, including the Royal Belgian Football Association and UEFA. Critics expressed disbelief and called the decision incomprehensible and unjustifiable, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the sport and the credibility of the World Cup competition due to perceived political intervention.