Megan Rapinoe Blames Trump’s Involvement for U.S. Men’s World Cup Loss

Megan Rapinoe recently attributed the U.S. men’s soccer team’s World Cup loss to the influence of President Donald Trump. During an interview with ‘The Daily Show’ host Desi Lydic, Rapinoe discussed how Trump’s actions impacted the team’s morale. The discussion followed a red card given to player Folarin Balogun in their match against Belgium, a decision that was later suspended.

Trump reportedly intervened by calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of the card. Asked by Lydic about the consequences of this intervention, Rapinoe commented that it failed to provide the team with the anticipated advantage. Instead, it seemed to unsettle them.

Balogun acknowledged that the red card reversal created a lot of external distractions for the team. Rapinoe noted that Trump’s involvement disrupted the team’s underdog momentum by engaging in public controversy.

Rapinoe, who has twice won the World Cup with the women’s national team, shared her perspective during her podcast ‘A Touch More: The Beautiful Game.’ She explained that the controversy surrounding Trump was a significant distraction for the team.

‘The distraction affected the team in some way,’ Rapinoe said. ‘The ongoing public discourse and the controversies created additional pressure.’

She pointed out that the team did not have experienced players accustomed to handle such situations.

Folarin Balogun later expressed to CBS that the red card incident and the subsequent controversy added tension among teammates. He tried to concentrate on the game but found external noise hard to ignore.

Throughout the controversy, the White House lauded Trump’s leadership. A spokesman emphasized the economic benefits and success of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attributing them to Trump’s decisive actions.