Belgian PM Says Trump Took 4-1 U.S. World Cup Loss Hard After FIFA Reprieve
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 7
Belgian PM Says Trump Took 4-1 U.S. World Cup Loss Hard After FIFA Reprieve
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 7
Summary
Bart De Wever said Donald Trump may react “irritably” after Belgium’s 4-1 win knocked the United States out, adding the defeat likely hit the president hard.
The remark followed an unusual White House push to keep U.S. striker Folarin Balogun eligible after a red card, including a personal Trump call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
FIFA lifted Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, a rare intervention that led Belgium’s football association to examine legal options and drew UEFA criticism over political influence.
Belgium still won comfortably on Monday, while White House World Cup task force director Andrew Giuliani called the result disappointing but praised the U.S. squad’s character afterward.