Fans Are Convinced the Trump Curse Is Real After His Attempt to Meddle in the World Cup Ended in a Brutal US Defeat
The Sidam touch?
The Trump curse just claimed its biggest victim yet, and this time it was on the world’s biggest soccer stage – the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After President Donald Trump personally intervened to overturn USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red card ahead of the World Cup Round of 16, the U.S. team suffered a brutal 4-1 defeat to Belgium. According to LADBible, the loss is the latest in a line of sports disasters tied to Trump’s involvement, and fans are now convinced the so-called Trump curse is real.
Trump’s meddling in the World Cup was unprecedented. FIFA’s rules don’t allow for red card appeals, but that didn’t stop the president from calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask that Balogun’s suspension be overturned. Somehow, it worked. The Daily Mail reported that FIFA invoked a little-known rule, Article 27, to delay Balogun’s ban, allowing him to play against Belgium.
Trump celebrated the decision on X, writing, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.” The White House confirmed Trump had personally lobbied Infantino, making this one of the most brazen examples of political interference in sports history.
The problem? It backfired spectacularly
Balogun’s presence on the field did nothing to stop Belgium’s dominance. The European side scored four unanswered goals. The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup it is co-hosting in humiliating fashion, and the fallout was immediate. Fans flooded social media with memes about the “Trump curse,” a phenomenon where Trump’s involvement in sports events seems to guarantee failure. It’s like the Drake curse, but with higher stakes and way more security costs.
This wasn’t the first time Trump’s sports appearances ended in disaster. Weeks ago, he attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, sitting in the New York Knicks’ owner’s suite. The San Antonio Spurs, down 2-0 in the series, pulled off a shocking win on enemy turf.
The security operation alone for that game reportedly cost $10 million, making it one of the most expensive presidential appearances in sports history. The result? A loss for the home team and another notch in the curse’s belt.
The pattern goes back years
At Super Bowl LIX, Trump predicted the Kansas City Chiefs would cruise to another title. Instead, they were obliterated by the Philadelphia Eagles, trailing 40-6 with just eight minutes left. The Chiefs managed to make the final score look respectable, but the damage was done.
Then there was his appearance at a Washington Commanders game, where he was booed by fans and left early after the team lost 44-22 to the Detroit Lions. Even college football hasn’t been safe – when Trump attended the national championship game in Miami, the hometown Hurricanes lost to the underdog Indiana Hoosiers.
Golf fans might remember the 2025 Ryder Cup, where Trump became the first sitting president to attend. Team USA was favored to reclaim the title on home soil, but Europe dominated from the start, building a seven-point lead before cruising to a 15-13 victory. It was the first time an away team had won the Ryder Cup since 2012, and Trump’s presence seemed to do more harm than good.
The World Cup debacle has only fueled the fire
Balogun, the player at the center of the controversy, apologized to fans after the loss. “My debut World Cup,” he wrote, alongside a photo of himself celebrating a goal against Bosnia. “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.”
His post struck a chord with fans, including U.S. soccer legends like Jozy Altidore, who commented, “Why not us?” FOX host Rebecca Lowe also chimed in, telling Balogun, “The best days are yet to come but these were still some GREAT days.”
The Belgian FA wasn’t as forgiving
Furious over FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s red card, they launched an appeal, only to have it rejected. In a scathing statement, they accused FIFA of breaking its own rules by failing to provide the referee’s report or a detailed explanation for the decision.
“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet,” they wrote. “This leaves all further actions open.” Their frustration was understandable. FIFA’s decision set a dangerous precedent, and the fact that it came after direct intervention from the U.S. president only made it worse.
For now, Balogun will serve his one-game suspension the next time he’s called up for international duty. The Monaco striker will have plenty of time to reflect on the World Cup disaster before returning to his club team. As for the Trump curse, it’s not going away anytime soon. With every sports appearance or intervention, the streak grows longer, and American fans are starting to wonder: is it a coincidence, or is there something more sinister at play?
(Featured image: Bryan Berlin)
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