News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. The case of Folarin Balogun, one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 World Cup, has returned to the center of discussion. Andrew Giuliani, a representative of the White House responsible for organizing the tournament, defended the actions of the U.S. government in the process that allowed the forward to play in the quarter-finals against Belgium. Balogun had been sent off in the round of 16 against Bosnia after receiving a straight red card, but ultimately benefited from a review of the sanction by FIFA, making him eligible for the next match. The decision sparked strong backlash and fueled suspicions of political influence, later confirmed by Donald Trump. Now, Giuliani reiterated the intervention by the United States. ‘First, the referee [Raphael Claus] had already been the subject of an investigation in Brazil related to red cards. Then, we believe that, in that incident, VAR was used improperly. Finally, it was our duty to protect American taxpayers, who invested billions of dollars in this competition and to ensure a fair World Cup,’ he stated in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. The U.S. official further asserted that the government’s actions aimed to protect the credibility of the competition. ‘We had to act in light of these elements and according to our philosophy, based on fairness both on and off the field,’ he added. The Balogun case marked the World Cup since the round of 16. The review of the suspension was seen by many as a rare precedent, especially given the speed with which the process was conducted, a decision that continues to generate debate even after the end of the U.S. participation.
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