World Cup
FIFA rejects Belgium challenge over Balogun eligibility, Trump calls red card U-turn ‘brilliant’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended world soccer’s disciplinary process on Monday amid an international wave of criticism after U.S. President Donald Trump praised FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s World Cupred-card ban, and as the controversy spilled over into politics.
Infantino said FIFA’s judicial bodies operated “independently and autonomously” and that he had told Trump the Balogun case was subject to an ongoing legal process, even as the U.S. President described the decision to reinstate the United States striker as “brilliant” after personally urging FIFA to review the case.
The affair has become the tournament’s biggest controversy, drawing condemnation from European football body UEFA, which said FIFA had “crossed a red line”, the Royal Belgian Football Association, several national federations as well as senior coaches, officials and politicians, with critics arguing FIFA had undermined confidence in its own disciplinary system.
It also prompted the Belgians, who play the U.S. later on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals, to challenge Balogun’s eligibility for the match but their appeal was rejected by FIFA. The player was sent off for a tackle during the U.S. win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a punishment that usually carries an automatic one-match ban.
“He (Balogun) didn’t do anything wrong and he is our best player,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office on Monday. “When they take your best player and say ‘You can’t play’ it’s very unfair.”
“I think they made a really brilliant decision,” Trump said. “I asked for a review. If they would not allow a top player to play I think it (the World Cup) would have had a big stain. I related that feeling.”
Trump also questioned the quality of refereeing by Brazil’s Raphael Claus, who had sent Balogun off, saying he was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” He did not elaborate.
Infantino later confirmed the call but said he explained to Trump that FIFA’s judicial bodies operated independently.
“During our conversation I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies,” Infantino said in a statement. “That is how FIFA’s system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold.”
For UEFA, the decision to suspend the ban was wrong.
“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision,” UEFA said. “Yesterday’s decision … crossed a red line.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”
Several national football federations have been equally critical of FIFA’s decision.
“The decision in the Balogun case is incomprehensible to the Swiss Football Association (SFA), regardless of how it came about,” the Swiss FA, whose team are in the World Cup round of 16, said.
“This decision raises questions and creates uncertainty, particularly regarding the authority of referees’ decisions, especially when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is involved. The credibility of the competition depends on clear rules that are applied consistently,” it said.
FAILED CHALLENGE
The Royal Belgian Football Association challenged FIFA’s decision to declare Balogun eligible to play on Monday but FIFA rejected it.
“The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible,” FIFA said in a statement. “The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
The Brazilian FA (CBF) also joined in the chorus of criticism, rejecting any suggestion regarding the quality of Claus’ refereeing.
“The CBF refutes any insinuation that casts doubt on Raphael Claus’s integrity. He is an exemplary professional, whose career is amply supported by technical assessments, consistent performance and the trust placed in him by the leading national and international competitions,” it said.
The high-profile criticism also echoed that from big names in the sport.
“This is our sport, not theirs,” said former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who is in talks to become the new Germany coach.
“If Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino really sorted this out between themselves, it is madness; it calls everything into question. These two people, who know nothing about football, should have absolutely nothing to do with this.”
It is not the first time this year that FIFA has been accused of mixing politics with sport, with Infantino attending President Trump’s Board of Peace meeting in February and facing subsequent questions about the body’s political neutrality.
STRANGE DECISION
Balogun, who has scored three goals in the tournament, was sent off after a VAR review for dragging his studs down the back of defender Tarik Muharemovic’s leg and onto his foot during their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.
The red card carried an automatic one-match ban, ruling Balogun out of Monday’s tie with Belgium. FIFA instead suspended the ban for a one-year probationary period without rescinding the card itself.
Even former FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who stepped down in 2015 amid corruption allegations, joined the criticism.
“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” he said. “If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis, FIFA? Football must never become a playground for political power.”
-Reuters
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BY Kunle Solaja, who was at the UN
The FIFA World Cup brought me to New York, but on a rare free afternoon between deadlines, press conferences and match reports, I found myself drawn to another global institution that, in its own way, rivals FIFA in international significance—the United Nations Headquarters.
The visit was made even more compelling by geography. The imposing glass structure of the United Nations sits on Manhattan’s East Side, just a shouting distance from Nigeria House, the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, which I also took time to visit.
At the mission, I had the pleasant surprise of meeting a familiar face from Nigerian football history—former international Humphrey Edobor, who now serves as the mission’s first point of contact on the ground floor. We barely had enough time for a proper conversation, as his busy schedule and the steady stream of visitors demanded his attention.
Kunle Solaja (right) poses with former Nigeria international Humphrey Edobor during a visit to Nigeria House, the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York. Edobor, once one of Nigeria’s most exciting wingers, now serves at the mission.
For younger football followers, Edobor’s name may not immediately ring a bell, but in his playing days he was one of Nigeria’s most exciting wingers. He represented the country at the 1984 and 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, was a member of the Flying Eagles squad that competed at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico, and enjoyed successful club careers with Bendel Insurance, New Nigeria Bank, Leventis United and El-Kanemi Warriors before taking his career abroad.
For a Nigerian journalist covering the world’s biggest sporting event, the closeness of Nigeria House to the United Nations felt symbolic. One building represents the world’s largest gathering of nations in diplomacy, while the other projects Nigeria’s identity, interests and voice on the international stage.
The walk along First Avenue was refreshing. Unlike the frenetic energy of Times Square, where giant electronic billboards compete for attention, and tourists move in endless streams, this corner of Manhattan exudes a quieter authority.
The flags of the world’s nations fluttered in disciplined formation outside the United Nations complex, creating perhaps the most colourful display of international unity anywhere on earth.
As I approached the headquarters, the iconic Secretariat Building rose majestically against the New York skyline. The structure, instantly recognisable from countless television broadcasts and newspaper photographs, looked both familiar and awe-inspiring at the same time. Here, presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and diplomats gather to debate issues affecting billions of people.
For a brief moment, my role as a football correspondent seemed to give way to something entirely different. Walking through the same gates that have welcomed generations of world leaders, heads of state, presidents and diplomats, carrying my visitor’s identification badge, I found myself imagining—if only fleetingly—what it must feel like to be part of the global diplomatic community. It was a rare feeling of stepping, however briefly, into the arena where history is discussed, differences are negotiated, and decisions that shape the world are made.
A memorable moment as I stepped into the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the global centre of diplomacy, during a break from my FIFA World Cup reporting assignment.
Only days earlier, I had watched Argentina and England battle fiercely for a place in the FIFA World Cup final. Before that, I had witnessed the emotional highs and lows of Morocco’s remarkable campaign.
Standing before the United Nations, however, I was reminded that football, despite its fierce rivalries, often serves a purpose remarkably similar to diplomacy. It brings people together across borders, languages, religions and cultures, creating common experiences that transcend politics and geography.
Like any institution of global importance, the United Nations operates with carefully observed protocols. Visitors first undergo security screening before entering the complex. Entry also requires advance online booking, after which each visitor is issued a personalised photo identification pass bearing the date of the visit.
My customised United Nations visitor’s identity card—a treasured addition to a growing collection of memorabilia gathered from covering ten consecutive FIFA World Cups and visiting iconic global institutions.
For those few hours, wearing that official visitor’s pass and moving through the corridors of the world’s foremost diplomatic institution, I could not help but feel a quiet sense of privilege. It was, perhaps, the closest a sports journalist could come to experiencing life as a diplomat—representing no government, yet sharing the same space where nations engage one another through dialogue rather than conflict.
Inside the visitors’ area, the atmosphere was calm and purposeful. Tourists from every continent mingled with diplomats, UN staff members and school groups. Different languages filled the air, yet there was a shared sense of curiosity, respect and international fellowship.
The famous General Assembly Hall was particularly striking. Seeing the chamber where representatives of the UN’s 193 member states gather underscored the immense scale of the institution. One could almost imagine the echoes of the historic speeches delivered there over the decades—moments that have shaped global history.
A view of the United Nations chambers through my lens, offering a glimpse into the venue where representatives of the world’s nations gather to deliberate on issues of global importance.
One of the first sights greeting visitors inside the main building is the imposing statue of the legendary Nelson Mandela. It was impossible to walk past without pausing. Naturally, it presented an irresistible photo opportunity, standing beside the likeness of one of the world’s greatest symbols of peace, reconciliation and human dignity.
Posing beside the statue of Nelson Mandela at the United Nations Headquarters—a fitting tribute to one of the world’s enduring symbols of peace, reconciliation and human dignity.
Outside, I paused once more at the line of national flags. My eyes instinctively searched for the green-white-green banner of Nigeria. There it was, standing proudly among the colours of the world—a reassuring reminder that despite being thousands of kilometres from home, Nigeria remained firmly represented in this global city.
That simple sight unexpectedly brought me back to the World Cup.
Throughout the tournament, I had watched supporters proudly wave their national colours in stadiums stretching from Vancouver to Atlanta and from Boston to New York. The flags outside the United Nations represented a different kind of contest—not one measured by goals, trophies or league tables, but by dialogue, cooperation and the collective pursuit of peace.
As the evening sun reflected off the glass façade of the Secretariat Building, transforming it into a shimmering tower of light, I reluctantly began my walk back.
Then came a surprise.
Just as I was leaving the main building, a voice called my attention. A Nigerian working at the United Nations, Kolawole Olugboye, tapped me on the shoulder. Meeting a fellow compatriot in such an international environment added another memorable moment to an already enriching visit. We exchanged warm greetings, sharing that familiar bond Nigerians often discover with one another far from home.
A memorable encounter with Kolawole Olugboye, a Nigerian working at the United Nations, whose warm welcome added a special touch to my visit to the world body’s headquarters in New York.
Soon, however, the demands of World Cup reporting beckoned once again. Another deadline. Another match. Another story. Another chapter in what had become my historic tenth consecutive FIFA World Cup coverage.
Yet the visit left me with a lasting reflection.
Football may be the world’s game, but the United Nations remains the place where the world itself comes together.
In New York, those two worlds exist almost side by side—one celebrating competition, passion and sporting excellence; the other devoted to dialogue, cooperation and peace. Between them stands Nigeria House, proudly representing the country in the global conversation.
For one unforgettable afternoon during the FIFA World Cup, I had the privilege of walking through all three.
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World Cup
CAF Hails Africa’s Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 Performance, Targets Greater Success in 2030
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has celebrated what it described as the best-ever FIFA World Cup performance by African nations, with CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe declaring that the continent’s teams made history at the expanded 2026 tournament.
Speaking on Wednesday, Motsepe praised the performances of the 10 African representatives at the World Cup, highlighting that nine of them advanced from the group stage to the Round of 32—a record 90 per cent qualification rate that surpassed every previous African campaign.
Africa was represented by Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
According to CAF, although African teams accounted for only 20.8 per cent of the 48 nations that competed at the tournament, they made up 28.1 per cent of the 32 teams that progressed to the knockout phase. The achievement was second only to UEFA in terms of the proportion of participating teams reaching the Round of 32.
Egypt and Morocco advanced to the Round of 16, while Morocco continued its impressive rise on the global stage by reaching the quarter-finals for the second consecutive FIFA World Cup.
CAF also singled out Cabo Verde, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Ghana and Tunisia for commendable performances during the tournament.
Motsepe described the campaign as a watershed moment for African football.
“Significant progress and successes were achieved by the African National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and I am very proud of their performances,” he said.
He noted that the continent’s 90 per cent qualification rate represented a dramatic improvement on previous editions, where African teams achieved qualification rates of 40 percent in 2022 and 2014, while none reached the knockout stage in 2018.
Despite the historic success, Motsepe said CAF had already identified areas requiring improvement ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
To that end, CAF will convene a technical conference with national team coaches, technical experts, former African internationals, and other stakeholders to evaluate tournament performances and formulate strategies for future success.
The CAF president also reiterated the federation’s commitment to expanding investment in youth football, coaching education, domestic leagues and national teams across all 54 member associations.
He revealed that CAF would increase funding for coaching development across its six regional zones and strengthen the CAF African Schools Football Championship as a pathway to nurture young talent.
Motsepe also stressed the importance of improving football infrastructure throughout Africa.
He called for stronger partnerships between governments, football associations and the private sector to ensure every member association has at least one stadium meeting CAF and FIFA standards, allowing national teams and clubs to play home matches before their supporters.
Expressing confidence in Africa’s future, Motsepe said CAF remained convinced that the continent would eventually produce a FIFA World Cup champion.
“Our objective is to make African football globally competitive and among the best in the world,” he said.
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By Kunle Solaja, JFK, New York
When the final whistle eventually sounded on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the curtain fell on another remarkable chapter in football history, my personal reflections will extend far beyond the goals, the drama and the unforgettable moments witnessed across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
For me, this World Cup represents something deeply personal; a milestone that once seemed distant but has now become reality.
Like the celebrated “La Décima” that Real Madrid proudly pursued and achieved in European football, the 2026 FIFA World Cup marks my own “La Décima”, similar to the Mission X of the magnificent Nigeria’s Super Falcons; attendance at a tenth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals as a journalist.
From Italia ’90 through USA ’94, France ’98, Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022 and now the 2026 tournament in North America, the journey has spanned 36 years of reporting, travelling, learning and documenting football history as it unfolded before my eyes.
Such a milestone is never achieved alone.
It is therefore fitting that I pause amid the excitement of the World Cup to express profound appreciation to one individual whose support made this latest journey possible — Hon. Adekunle Soname, Chairman of Bet9ja and, easily, Nigeria’s most influential yet understated sports visionary.
At a time when independent journalism faces increasing financial pressures and international coverage has become more expensive than ever, Bet9ja’s decision to support my World Cup project was not merely a sponsorship arrangement. It was an investment in sports journalism, historical documentation and the preservation of a tradition that has lasted for nearly four decades.
Hon. Soname’s contribution ensured that Sports Village Square could maintain its presence at the world’s biggest sporting event and continue delivering firsthand reports, features, interviews and analyses directly from the tournament venues.
Those who know Hon. Soname understand that his commitment to football extends far beyond business. Over the years, he has consistently demonstrated a passion for the growth of the game in Nigeria and Africa, supporting initiatives that contribute to football development both on and off the field.
His support for this World Cup coverage is another reflection of that enduring commitment.
I also owe a debt of gratitude to the dedicated members of the Bet9ja marketing team whose professionalism, cooperation and confidence in the project helped transform an idea into reality. Their belief in the value of quality sports journalism and credible tournament coverage played an important role in ensuring the success of this venture.
Behind every sponsorship agreement are individuals who work quietly but diligently to make things happen. They deserve recognition for their efficiency, encouragement and unwavering support throughout the process.
My appreciation also goes to a long-standing friend of sports journalism and one of Nigeria’s most respected media professionals, Femi Adesina.
Long before this World Cup journey reached its tenth chapter, Femi Adesina had become one of its steadfast supporters. Since the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, he has consistently offered encouragement, support and goodwill towards my international coverage efforts.
Femi Adesina, a passionate sports enthusiast and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President of Nigeria, has been a steadfast pillar of support for my FIFA World Cup coverage since Brazil 2014. His unwavering encouragement has helped make successive World Cup reporting missions possible.
Whether as a colleague in journalism or later as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, he never lost his appreciation for the value of professional sports reporting and the role it plays in projecting Nigeria to the world.
His support over the years has been a source of motivation, particularly during moments when the challenges of international coverage appeared overwhelming.
As I look back on ten consecutive World Cups, I am reminded that journalism, despite often appearing to be an individual pursuit, is in reality a collective endeavour. Every byline carries the fingerprints of numerous supporters, friends, family members, colleagues and institutions whose contributions make the work possible.
This tenth World Cup attendance therefore belongs not only to me but also to everyone who has supported the journey from its humble beginnings in Italy in 1990 to this historic milestone in North America in 2026.
For Hon. Kunle Soname and Bet9ja, for the dedicated members of the company’s marketing team, and for Femi Adesina, I offer my heartfelt gratitude.
Their support has helped make possible a dream that began more than three decades ago and has now culminated in a personal “La Décima” — ten consecutive FIFA World Cups.
For that, I remain profoundly thankful.
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