'Overturn this': Belgium taunt US after Trump intervention

Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin expressed that his team felt a "sense of injustice" regarding the one-match ban suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun, which occurred shortly before their World Cup last-16 match. Balogun, who is 25 years old, seemed destined to miss the game in Seattle after receiving a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round. However, FIFA announced on Sunday that it was suspending the automatic one-match ban for 12 months, which led to substantial criticism from various parties, including UEFA, Belgium, and England head coach Thomas Tuchel.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he had requested FIFA to review Balogun's ban, claiming it would have left a "big stain" on the tournament. Nevertheless, after Balogun was cleared to play and started the match, Belgium decisively defeated the co-hosts 4-1. Raskin remarked, "A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days. There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field."

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans affirmed that the incident motivated his team. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That’s what we did," he commented. Following the fourth goal, several players were seen dancing in a style reminiscent of the "Trump dance," a move that gained notoriety during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign. The Belgian national team's official Instagram also seemed to mock the situation, featuring striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption "overturn this."

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mentioned that Balogun "came to talk" after the game, appreciating the aim of fostering good sportsmanship. Garcia noted that the primary concern was their own game plan, emphasizing his squad's maturity. Iran also took a jab at the U.S. and the Balogun incident by sharing a snapshot of their draw with Belgium alongside the U.S.'s heavy defeat, captioned with, "Now the whole world is dancing for the humiliating defeat of politics against football."

Trump commented that FIFA made the "right decision" in suspending the ban and maintained he merely asked for a review, clarifying that he did not instruct FIFA to lift it. Ahead of the match, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed astonishment at the suspension of Balogun's ban and contested his eligibility to play. Although the RBFA appealed the decision, a FIFA committee determined they were not an involved party, as they were simply the next opponents of the U.S.

Tuchel criticized the ruling for setting a dangerous precedent, while UEFA suggested that intervening to cancel a suspension effectively "crossed a red line." He raised concerns about where to draw the line in such decisions, noting that only once in World Cup history had a red card been overturned, in Brazil's Garrincha's case back in 1962.

Belgium's victory allowed them to advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain.