Trump hasn't ruined the World Cup

The World Cup faced fresh scrutiny after actions by the White House and FIFA cast a temporary shadow over the tournament. Following USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card during the team’s victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina last Wednesday, FIFA chose to “suspend” what would have been an automatic one-match ban. The decision, issued by an 18-strong FIFA disciplinary committee, came after several phone calls involving Donald Trump, US Soccer, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The outcome angered critics because other players who were sent off earlier have faced or are expected to face automatic bans without any described reprieve process. Trump later praised the reversal on Truth Social. On Monday, a Belgian side defeated the USA 4-1 in the Round of 16, with Balogun largely ineffective despite his availability.