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Hindsight is 20/20, but it sure seems like Landon Donovan wishes the Folarin Balogun red-card controversy just played itself out.
The USMNT star received a red card in the round of 32 of the World Cup, which initially made him ineligible to play in the next round. However, FIFA decided to suspend the red card, which made Balogun eligible. President Donald Trump later said he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked for a review, but FIFA claimed it was not influenced by Trump.
Nonetheless, the ruling added to what was already a huge controversy, and Donovan said the situation got “out of hand.”
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USA’s Landon Donovan celebrates victory at the final whistle at the 2010 World Cup. (EMPICS Sport – PA Images via Getty Images)
“I was disappointed… because it had been a World Cup full of nonpartisanship — people just loving America, loving the flag and loving what they were watching. Then it became very messy, and nobody wanted to see that, because we love the sport. We loved what we were watching, and the players have since admitted that it became difficult for them,” Donovan told Digital in a recent interview. “It tainted what had been an incredible run.
“The really sad part is that it never should have been a red card, but that is the reality. It’s just disappointing that it got out of control that way. I felt bad for Balogun. I felt bad for the team, to be honest, and it was very clear that it motivated the Belgian team.”
The International Olympic Committee recently said it was not investigate Infantino regarding Trump’s call to him.
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup winner’s trophy before handing it over to Spain captain Rodri at the award ceremony following the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
IOC DECLINES TO INVESTIGATE GIANNI INFANTINO OVER TRUMP’S CALL ABOUT FOLARIN BALOGUN RED CARD
“All I did was I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump said at the time. “And, again, I’m good at this stuff. I didn’t think it was a foul. I thought it was two great athletes who crashed into each other and got entangled. That was not a guy punching somebody in the face or anything, that would be different.
“I think it’s a terrible … if they wouldn’t allow a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best on the team, to play. I think it would have had a big stain. I relayed it. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, No. 1, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”
As Donovan noted, Balogun admitted that the red card fiasco resulted in “a lot of outside noise” and caused “quite a bit of nerves” among the team.
“The closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult. A lot of outside noise and that’s hard to avoid,” Balogun said earlier this month.
Folarin Balogun of the U.S. is consoled by teammates Giovanni Reyna and Timothy Weah after receiving a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026, in Santa Clara, California. (Carlos Barria / Reuters via Imagn Images)
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Belgium gave a strong response to Balogun being eligible for the game, but to not avail. At the end of the day, though, they got the last laugh with a 4-1 victory.
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