Retired United States women's national team star Megan Rapinoe has blamed President Donald Trump for negatively affecting the US men's soccer team's performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguing that the president's intervention stripped the squad of its underdog appeal and created a distraction that ultimately contributed to their elimination.
Appearing onThe Daily Show, Rapinoe was asked by host Desi Lydic about the red card issued to US player Folarin Balogun during the Round of 32 match, which was later rescinded after Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review. Rapinoe said the move did not help the team. «Certainly not well, it didn't give them the boost, maybe, that they were thinking it would or that Trump was hoping that it would,» she responded. «It seemed like it kind of threw them off their game.»
Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion with the women's national team, elaborated on her podcastA Touch More: The Beautiful Game, describing Trump's involvement as a significant distraction. «I think the distraction got to the team for sure in some type of way. Whether it was this red card situation, whether it was being in a public discourse with this president, all of the shenanigans and chaos that comes with the feelings on both sides of that,» she said. «Whether you agree with it or not, it's a lot to contend with.»
The former star also noted that the US men's team lacked the veteran leadership to handle such external pressure. «Not only does this team not have a core of older players who are used to that, but none of these players talk about anything ever, for the most part,» she said. «I think in men's football, just like in general, there's not a lot of players who are choosing to use their platform or to broaden their scope of pressure and responsibility.»
The US men's national team ultimately lost to Belgium in the Round of 16, ending their World Cup run. Balogun, who plays for AS Monaco, acknowledged after the match that the red card controversy created a difficult environment. Speaking to CBS in mid-July, he said, «My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team, but when I started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy, and I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves, because it is something that is so unique. The closer we got to the game, I tried to focus as best as I could, but it was difficult. A lot of outside noise and that's hard to avoid.»
The White House defended Trump's actions, with spokesman Davis Ingle telling Fox News Digital, «No other president in history could have pulled off the historic feat that President Trump delivered for the American people and the world. Thanks to his bold vision and decisive leadership, the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated billions of dollars in revenue, created a massive economic boost across host cities, and delivered a safe, secure, and seamless experience for millions of fans and athletes from around the globe. It will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest and most successful sporting events in history.»
Rapinoe's comments have reignited debate about the role of political figures in international sports, particularly when their involvement is perceived as interfering with team dynamics. The US men's team had entered the tournament with a relatively young roster and had been seen by some observers as a potential dark horse, making the early exit particularly disappointing for fans.
The controversy surrounding the red card reversal and Trump's call to FIFA added an unusual layer of political tension to the team's World Cup campaign, with players and staff forced to navigate questions about the president's intervention alongside their on-field preparations. Balogun's admission that the situation caused nerves among his teammates underscores the challenge of maintaining focus amid such high-profile external attention.
As the US men's team looks ahead to future tournaments, the episode serves as a case study in how political involvement can affect athletic performance, especially for a squad still developing its identity on the world stage.