Wright and Neville slam Trump's FIFA intervention after USA crash out 4-1 to Belgium

Ian Wright and Gary Neville have condemned Donald Trump’s intervention in the Folarin Balogun red card controversy, saying the US President’s call to FIFA embarrassed the American team and contributed to their 4-1 round-of-16 defeat to Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.

Balogun, the AS Monaco striker, had his red card from the USA’s group-stage match against Bosnia & Herzegovina overruled and suspended for 12 months after a phone call between FIFA chief Gianni Infantino and Trump. The decision allowed Balogun to start against Belgium, but he could not prevent Mauricio Pochettino’s side from being eliminated.

Speaking as an ITV pundit, Wright said the episode had left him feeling sorry for American supporters. “It’s embarrassed them,” he said. “I feel sorry for that American supporter who loves the game, for their President to embarrass them. I’m gutted for them.”

Neville argued the intervention would have been deeply unwelcome inside the USA dressing room. “They grabbed defeat from victory because they had so much neutral love,” he said. “They put in a good performance from the very beginning and when you look at those American footballers, they’re Americans with morals — that pre-match situation they won’t have enjoyed that. Football players don’t like an advantage of any kind. The intervention from the President to FIFA, they would have hated that.”

Roy Keane agreed the controversy had been a distraction, adding that it handed Belgium a motivational boost. “It would’ve motivated Belgium no doubt, because it was harsh,” Keane said. “They never turned up or got going and Belgium got momentum going into the game. Then self-destruct for the USA — tough old day.”

Belgium made their feelings clear after the final whistle. The Royal Belgian Football Association’s social media account sarcastically urged FIFA to “overturn” their win, while players in the changing room re-enacted Trump’s famous YMCA dance as they celebrated booking a quarter-final place. Belgium will now face reigning European champions Spain at the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday.