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Hindsight is 20/20, but it sure seems like Landon Donovan wishes the Folarin Balogun red card controversy had resolved itself.
The USMNT star received a red card in the round of 32 of the World Cup, initially leaving 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.
However, the ruling added to what was already a major controversy, with Donovan saying the situation “got out of control.”
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American Landon Donovan celebrates victory at the final whistle of the 2010 World Cup. (EMPICS Sport – PA Images via Getty Images)
“I was disappointed… because it had been a World Cup full of fairness: people just loved America, loved the flag and loved what they were seeing. Then it became very complicated and no one wanted to watch that, because we love the sport. We loved what we were seeing, and since then the players have admitted that it became difficult for them,” Donovan told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview. “This tainted what had been an incredible career.
“The really sad thing is that it should never have been a red card, but that’s the reality. It’s disappointing that it got out of control like that. I felt bad for Balogun. To be honest, I felt bad for the team, and it was very clear that motivated the Belgian team.”
The International Olympic Committee recently said it would not investigate Infantino in connection with Trump’s call.
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold the FIFA World Cup winner’s trophy before presenting it to Spain captain Rodri at the awards ceremony following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
IOC REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE GIANNI INFANTINO OVER TRUMP’S CALL ABOUT FOLARIN BALOGUN’S RED CARD
“All I did was ask 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 ran into each other and got tangled up. That wasn’t a guy punching someone in the face or anything, that would be different.
“I think it’s terrible… if they hadn’t allowed a top player to play, maybe the best, maybe one of the best on the team. I think it would have been a big stain. I passed it on. I didn’t tell him what to do. I don’t think he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision because, number one, 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 caused “a lot of outside noise” and caused “quite a few nerves” among the team.
“The closer we got to the game, I tried to concentrate as best I could, but it was difficult. There was a lot of noise outside and that’s hard to avoid,” Balogun said earlier this month.
Folarin Balogun of the USA is consoled by teammates Giovanni Reyna and Timothy Weah after receiving a red card during the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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 no avail. In the end, however, they had the last laugh with a 4-1 victory.
