Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever says he will intentionally avoid mentioning the United States’ recent World Cup defeat to Belgium when he meets with President Donald Trump at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. De Wever stated he does not want to provoke the president. He added the 4-1 elimination loss in Seattle likely hit Trump “hard.”
The prime minister’s cautious diplomatic approach follows a highly public convergence of international sports and politics. Prior to the Round of 16 match, Trump publicly claimed credit for pressuring FIFA President Gianni Infantino to suspend a red card for USMNT forward Folarin Balogun. Despite the unprecedented intervention, the U.S. suffered a decisive defeat.
The Belgian national team openly mocked the U.S. president on the pitch following their victory. Players performed his signature dance and posted “Overturn this” on their official social media accounts, according to ITV. That report also verified Infantino’s subsequent justification of the intervention.
The political meddling triggered immediate mockery from domestic rivals. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla labeled the defeat the “Trump effect” and likened it to a “reverse Midas touch.” This joined a broader wave of online ridicule directed at Trump as outlined by The Independent.
Prominent football figures also condemned the governing body’s actions. Wayne Rooney criticized FIFA’s leadership, calling Infantino’s capitulation an “absolute disgrace.” The political interference fundamentally bypassed FIFA’s traditional independent judicial mechanisms. Infantino defended the decision by citing a regulatory provision that merely “suspended” the card rather than overturning it entirely.
Critics drew direct parallels to Trump’s recent appearance at the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks lost in his presence. The pattern fueled a running social media narrative that he acts as a bad luck charm for American sports teams.