The USMNT’s World Cup exit was already messy. A 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 will do that. But what happened off the field in Seattle might end up being the longer-lasting story.
FIFA let striker Folarin Balogun play despite a red card in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. That came after President Donald Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review. The decision sparked outrage from Belgium, with coach Rudi Garcia calling it “April Fools.” Belgium’s appeal went nowhere. FIFA dismissed it.
But here’s where it gets weird. While Balogun got the green light, two USMNT staffers were sidelined. According to a report from Front Office Sports’ Dennis Young and Margaret Fleming, FIFA suspended team manager Sam Zapatka and US Soccer vice president of security Frank Pannell. The exact reason isn’t clear. The report suggests it might be linked to FIFA’s controversial handling of Balogun’s red card situation.
US Soccer acknowledged the suspensions but wouldn’t comment. They punted questions to FIFA, which also declined to comment. So we’re left guessing.
Balogun picked up a straight red in the group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday. Under standard FIFA rules, that’s an automatic one-game ban. Trump’s call to Infantino changed that. The two have a relationship that goes back a few years — since the U.S. won the right to co-host the World Cup. FIFA even awarded Trump its inaugural Peace Prize back in December.
Infantino, who visited the White House in 2018, has taken heat for getting cozy with Trump. Critics say it’s a conflict of interest that undermines the sport’s credibility. This latest episode isn’t helping that perception.
So the USMNT heads home after a lopsided loss, Balogun played without serving a suspension, and two staffers are sitting out for reasons nobody will explain. That’s a lot of noise for a team that just got knocked out in the Round of 16.
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