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Trump Confirms He Intervened in FIFA Decision on US Player Balogun — FIFA Insists It's Independent
Times of India·Tuesday, 7 July 2026
US President Donald Trump confirmed he intervened regarding Folarin Balogun's eligibility to play for the US in their FIFA World Cup round-of-16 match against Belgium. FIFA allowed Balogun to play despite the controversy, and is now pushing back, saying it operates autonomously. The situation has drawn sharp criticism and raised questions about political interference in international football.
Why It Matters
A sitting US president influencing a FIFA decision at a World Cup hosted on US soil sets a troubling precedent for the independence of global sports governance.
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