The USMNT lost 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was a disappointing performance from start to finish, and adding to the embarrassment was U.S. President Donald Trump working to get Folarin Balogun reinstated for a match he was expected to be suspended for after being assessed a red card in the round of 16 against Bosnia & Herzegovina.
“I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports … that wasn’t a foul,” Trump told reporters on Monday.
“That wasn’t even an infraction … this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe … he’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant … yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.”
Belgium made it clear that it was unhappy with Balogun being allowed to play, and made sure to mock the President after its dominant victory. On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani held a press conference and announced that the professional women’s club Gotham FC would relocate to Etihad Park in Queens, NY, in 2028.
“My conversations with the president have to do with what benefits our city.”
The Mayor also touched on the circumstances surrounding the USMNT.
“I thought it was a cruel red card,” Mamdani said of Balogun being assessed the red card in the round of 32.
Although he might’ve found it cruel, the Mayor revealed that he did not discuss the card with Donald Trump.
“I haven’t spoken to the president about the red card, and I’ve also made it very clear that my conversations with the president have to do with what benefits our city.”
Mamdani: “I haven’t spoken to the president about the red card, and I’ve also made it very clear that my conversations with the president have to do with what benefits our city” pic.twitter.com/p99r2wN8cO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 7, 2026
Hopefully, Mamdani’s 24/7 soccer fields in NYC, which he announced on Monday before the USMNT’s loss, will aid in closing the talent gap with the rest of the world and help ensure that future generations of the USMNT don’t need to rely on any questionable rulings.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.