Folarin Balogun issues statement on USA's World Cup exit following Donald Trump intervention

Folarin Balogun has broken his silence after the USA’s World Cup dream came crashing down in a brutal 4-1 defeat to Belgium

It comes after Donald Trump’s controversial intervention during the tournament, which saw Balogun’s red card overturned.

In case you somehow missed it, the 25-year-old was facing a suspension after being shown a red card during the USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. But FIFA made a surprise ruling to suspend the punishment and cancel out his one-match ban.

Confirming suspicions that he had something to do with the decision, President Trump claimed he contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino over what he believed was an unfair red card.

But there was no Trump intervention that could save the USA this week, as their World Cup journey came to a crushing end thanks to Belgium.

Now, following the USA’s exit, Balogun has issued a statement and sent a message to supporters.

'We let you down'

Posting to X, he wrote: “My debut World Cup… it hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer.

“I want to say sorry to our fans it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down.”

He continued: “Soccer in America will only become bigger the belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us, the future belongs to those who never stop believing, this moment will fuel us. We will be back.

“Why not us? For the nation. For the flag.”

An 'absolute disgrace'

Meanwhile, FIFA's decision to overturn Balogun’s red card continues to divide opinion, with some of football’s biggest names weighing in on the controversial call.

England football legend Wayne Rooney referred to the decision as an 'absolute disgrace', while Thierry Henry told Fox Sport that while he didn't think Balogun deserved a red card, he didn't 'agree with how they rescinded the red'.

Henry told Alexi Lalas: "What Fifa did wasn't right, it was the right thing in terms of not giving the red. It should have been a decision on the field, not after three or four days, I didn't agree with that at all.”

Elsewhere, UEFA has said in a scathing statement that FIFA 'crossed a line' in their decision to overturn Balogun's red card.

The governing body of European football continued : "Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws.

"A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole. We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."