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who did trump talk to at FIFA

Quick Scoop: Trump didn’t just “talk to FIFA” in passing—he actually called FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and asked him to review (and ultimately suspend) the red‑card ban on U.S. star Folarin Balogun during the 2026 World Cup.

Who exactly did Trump talk to at FIFA?

The main person: Gianni Infantino

  • Gianni Infantino , president of FIFA, is the sole individual Trump has credibly been reported to speak with directly over this Balogun red‑card issue.
  • Multiple reports say Trump called Infantino and asked him to review Balogun’s one‑match suspension after the USA forward received a red card in a World Cup game.
  • Trump later said in the Oval Office that he had spoken with Infantino and that his intervention helped FIFA pause the ban for a one‑year probationary period.

Any other names?

There are earlier instances of Trump meeting FIFA figures, but they are not the same as the 2026 Balogun controversy:

  • In 2018 , Trump met Gianni Infantino at the White House (after Infantino became FIFA president), and also had U.S. Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro in the room.
  • In 2025 , Trump participated in a FIFA Task Force Meeting at the White House and met with various officials working on the 2026 World Cup, but reports do not name specific FIFA executives beyond the Task Force context.

The question “who did Trump talk to at FIFA” most directly refers to the 2026 World Cup Balogun red‑card saga , which centers on Gianni Infantino as the person Trump spoke with.

What actually happened in the Balogun case?

The red card and the ban

  • U.S. Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in a 2026 World Cup match, triggering an automatic one‑match suspension that would have kept him out of the USA’s next game, reportedly against Belgium.
  • The suspension sparked a storm of criticism from American fans and concern about the U.S. team’s chances without their star player.

Trump’s intervention

  • President Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino and asked him to review the suspension.
  • After that call, FIFA’s Appeal Committee suspended Balogun’s one‑match ban for a one‑year probationary period, allowing him to play against Belgium.
  • Belgium later lost its appeal challenging Balogun’s eligibility, and the decision was upheld by FIFA.

The fallout

  • The case became a major World Cup storyline , involving not just Trump and FIFA but also Belgium and UEFA , which raised questions about the fairness and timing of the intervention.
  • Trump publicly admitted that his conversation with Infantino influenced FIFA’s decision to pause the ban, framing it as protecting the USA’s “best player”.

Why this matters in the broader Trump–FIFA relationship

2018 Oval Office meeting

  • In August 2018, Trump hosted Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office, where Infantino gave Trump a FIFA jersey with “TRUMP 26” (for World Cup 2026) as well as red and yellow cards, jokingly handing a red card to the press.
  • The meeting was partly about promoting the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico , which Trump had strongly backed politically.

2025–2026 White House FIFA work

  • In 2025, Trump chaired or participated in a White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 , bringing together U.S. officials and FIFA representatives to prepare for the tournament.
  • In mid‑2026, the Balogun case turned that long‑standing relationship into a live controversy, with Trump directly intervening in an on‑field disciplinary decision through a phone call to Infantino.

Fast timeline of the key 2026 events

  1. Balogun gets red card in a 2026 World Cup match → one‑match suspension announced.
  2. Trump calls Infantino asking for a review of the suspension.
  1. FIFA suspends the ban for a one‑year probation, clearing Balogun to play the next game.
  2. Belgium appeals , but FIFA’s Appeal Committee rejects it, confirming Balogun’s eligibility.
  3. Trump publicly admits influencing the decision in Oval Office remarks.

Summary in one line

In the most recent and widely discussed “Trump at FIFA” story, Trump talked to Gianni Infantino , FIFA’s president, by phone, asking him to review and ultimately suspend Folarin Balogun’s red‑card ban during the 2026 World Cup. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.