Late-Night Hosts Mock Trump's FIFA Reprieve for Balogun After 4-1 U.S. Loss

Q: After a president bent the rules, why did the U.S. team still face a humiliating defeat?

The U.S. still lost badly because overturning Folarin Balogun’s suspension did not fix the team’s deeper problems, and Belgium was clearly the better side. Balogun was available after FIFA suspended the automatic one-match ban following President Trump’s intervention, but his presence had little effect on the game. Belgium won 4-1 by exposing repeated U.S. defensive failures and controlling the key moments. The Americans conceded in the ninth minute, then gave up another goal almost immediately after Malik Tillman’s equalizer, a sign of poor concentration and game management. The defeat was driven by defensive breakdowns more than by any single selection decision. Belgium repeatedly found space, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and assisting another. U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese also made a major error on Belgium’s third goal, and the back line struggled with marking, clearances and possession under pressure. By the end, the U.S. had been punished for missed assignments, giveaways and a lack of cohesion. Belgium’s overall quality and depth were decisive. Even without starting some top names, they outplayed the U.S. with sharper movement, better finishing and more composure. Coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted his team never really connected with the match or showed its usual level. The controversy around Balogun dominated the buildup, but it did not change the basic reality on the field: Belgium was stronger, and the U.S. made too many costly mistakes to compete.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8

Ronny Chieng and Tiffany Haddish used Tuesday's monologues to ridicule President Trump's intervention with FIFA after Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match ban was suspended.
Balogun had been ruled out of the U.S. match against Belgium after a red-card foul, but Trump stepped in and FIFA reversed the suspension, giving comics fresh material about favoritism and corruption.
A 4-1 defeat to Belgium sharpened the punchlines, with Chieng framing the lopsided score as proof that canceling the ban did not help the U.S. team.
The jokes also tied the episode to Trump's broader politics, contrasting his reported effort to help one U.S. player with his push against birthright citizenship.