Trump Claims World Cup Match Against Belgium Could Be ‘Rigged’

United States President Donald Trump has suggested that any potential defeat for the U.S. national team in their upcoming World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium would be “rigged.”

Speaking at a White House event on Monday, Trump drew parallels between the upcoming football match and his contested claims regarding the 2020 U.S. presidential election. While discussing the team’s preparations for the game in Seattle, the President stated that if the U.S. were to lose, he would characterize the outcome as fraudulent.

The President also confirmed his involvement in a recent controversy surrounding U.S. forward Folarin Balogun. Balogun was issued a straight red card during the team’s previous victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, an offense that would typically result in an automatic one-match suspension.

Trump acknowledged that he contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision, stating that he did not believe the incident warranted a red card. Following the contact, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee issued an unprecedented ruling to suspend Balogun’s ban for a one-year probationary period, allowing him to participate in Monday’s match.

The decision has sparked significant backlash from international football bodies. UEFA, the governing body for European football, has strongly criticized FIFA’s intervention, describing the move as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” and accusing the organization of crossing a red line in tournament governance.