'Trump curse' explained after World Cup drama continues his miserable five-game streak
Donald Trump's involvement in the 2026 World Cup has gone to new levels, with the President of the United States directly saying he was responsible for overturning Folarin Balogun's red card.
This was despite there being no appeal process to overturn a red under FIFA's World Cup rules.
It saw Team USA hyped going in to their Round of 16 match-up against Belgium, with the Americans truly believing they now had the fire power to take the United States in to the quarter-finals.
Alas, it did not happen. Belgium romped to a 4-1 victory. And in turn, it saw football fans across the world jump on the 'Trump curse' bandwagon that's adding weight with every involvement the POTUS has in sports.
What is the 'Trump curse'?
We've all heard of the Drake curse, with the music mogul is notorious for placing large wagers on sporting events and very often backing the loser.
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You don't want Drake's money riding on you is the long and short of the viral explainer around the Canadian rapper.
Now, 80-year-old Trump has his own growing trend of a similar nature.
No betting with the former reality TV star, though. Instead, it's about his general presence and involvement in sports. See, Donald can't quite seem to get it right.
After personally calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino, he got Balogun's red card from the USA's Bosnia and Herzegovina victory rescinded... only for Balogun to not turn up and the USA get well beaten.
'Trump curse' didn't start with Balogun, hello NBA Finals
Sports fans have done their research. Looking back at what else Trump has got involved with.
Only weeks ago, he attended the NBA Finals in an unprecedented move for a sitting president.
Rocking up to Game 3 at Madison Square Gardens and sitting in the New York Knicks' owner's suite, it was the San Antonio Spurs that won on enemy ground after going two up in the series.
The attendance at the game was also estimated to cost a whopping $10 million in the security operation.
Super Bowl LIX, Washington attendance, and college football
Trump predicted the Kansas City Chiefs would romp to another title at the Super Bowl last year.
All eyes were on Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes and whether they could go back to back as champs of the NFL.
Instead, the Chiefs got obliterated by the Philadelphia Eagles and their quarterback Jalen Hurts. A late flurry of points made the scoreline respectable but the scoreline sat at 40-6 with 8 minutes left. A brutal end to the season.
Staying in the NFL, Trump also attended the Washington Commanders' game against the Detroit Lions last year. While getting booed by some sections, the Commanders also lost miserably to the Lions 44-22. Trump left early.
POTUS also attended the College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami, close to his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The Miami Hurricanes lost that to the Indiana Hoosiers by a score of 27-21. They weren't the favourites, but the pattern continued...
Ryder Cup
Trump attended the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Course, New York. He was the first sitting president to attend the competition, adding to the nationalism as Team USA looked to regain the title.
But it wasn't to be, with Europe becoming the first away team to win since 2012.
Europe also dominated, going in to the final day with a seven point leader. It became a more respectable loss at 15-13 overall, but Europe's early march was a sucker-punch to American enthusiasm.
Topics: World Cup, Donald Trump, US News, Sport
Tom Earnshaw