Anti-Trump voices online are celebrating the U.S. soccer team’s Monday night World Cup loss to Belgium after President Donald Trump said he intervened with FIFA to help get an American star cleared to play.
Folarin Balogun, a player who was integral to the U.S. team’s success in the earlier rounds of the tournament, received a red card in a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week after stepping on the ankle of a defender while vying for the ball.
Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked the soccer organization to review the red card, which came along with a one-game suspension that would have barred Balogun from playing on Monday night. FIFA announced Sunday that Balogun’s punishment would be suspended, but said that Trump’s call had nothing to do with the decision.
After a lackluster performance, the U.S. lost Monday night’s match 4-1, leading to celebration among Trump opponents online.
“I don’t follow soccer, but I hear the men’s US team lost to Belgium, and that you know who tried to strong arm the officials to manipulate the outcome by voiding the suspension of that one star player,” said one person in a Tuesday post on the notorious left-wing online echo chamber Bluesky.
“I’m glad we lost. [F–k] our demented moronic ‘leader’ and [f–k] his FIFA goons and [f–k] the US [right now], truly.”
Another user wrote on the same site: “Sad I am to admit it, but I’m glad the [U.S. Men’s National Team] lost to Belgium. I could never have supported a US Team that gained victory after Trump played the Refs and attempted to Rig the outcome.”
“I am glad for [Belgium],” wrote a third user. “Trump put his thumb on the scale and still lost us the game. Karma is truly a b—-.”
MEDIA FIGURES MELT DOWN OVER TRUMP INVOLVEMENT WITH FIFA AS US STAR FOLARIN BALOGUN SET TO PLAY
Yet another wrote on the left-wing platform: “So glad the US lost to Belgium after the Orange Baboon tried to cheat.”
One user claimed that Trump would have taken credit had the team won, which would have been “unbearable,” and said that they were “glad the US lost.”
Others took to social media before the game to proudly declare they were rooting against the American team.
Known Trump hater and film director Morgan J. Freeman was chief among them, saying in part on Bluesky, “I’m not rooting for the USA if they are cheating.”
“I’m an American world cup [sic] fan, but I am now rooting against team USA,” said another person.
After the U.S. team’s crushing defeat this week, they will have to wait four years for a chance at World Cup redemption.
