President Trump publicly thanked FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the reversal of a red-card suspension issued to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, while also suggesting the United States should host a future tournament without Canada and Mexico.
Trump has said he spoke with Infantino about reviewing Balogun’s red card, after which FIFA lifted the suspension in time for the player to face Belgium in the round of 16. The U.S. went on to lose that match 4-1, ending its tournament run. FIFA has maintained that Trump played no role in the decision to lift the suspension, but Trump has repeatedly referenced his involvement in the episode publicly, most recently at a reception with FIFA officials, drawing criticism from UEFA and other international observers who called the intervention inappropriate.
At the same event, Trump told FIFA officials the U.S. should be selected to host another World Cup on its own, saying “this time we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out” — a reference to the three countries’ joint hosting of the current 2026 tournament. Trump also said Infantino had separately floated the idea of a joint U.S.-China hosting arrangement for a future World Cup, joking about the travel logistics between the two countries.
The comments add to a string of remarks by Trump throughout the tournament that have kept him in the sport’s spotlight, from the Balogun episode to his planned attendance at Sunday’s final in New Jersey. Neither FIFA nor Canadian or Mexican soccer federations have formally responded to Trump’s remarks about future hosting arrangements.
— VIRA Broadcasting