The Belgian Football Association has taken a swipe at FIFA's decision to overturn the suspension of American striker Folarin Balogun. After Belgium's 4-1 World Cup victory over the US, the team's social media account posted a picture of forward Romelu Lukaku celebrating, alongside the caption: "Overturn this." The post was a clear reference to the controversy surrounding Balogun's suspension.
The row began when Balogun was initially suspended after receiving a red card in the USA's round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the suspension was later overturned after US President Donald Trump intervened, allowing Balogun to face Belgium. Despite this, the US team struggled, and Belgium dominated the match, winning 4-1.
The result has also sparked renewed interest in the theory of the "Trump curse," which suggests that teams or individuals who receive support from the President tend to experience poor performances. While this theory is not taken seriously by most fans, it has become a popular meme and talking point on social media. Examples of the "curse" in action include the New York Knicks' loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, and the Detroit Lions' defeat to the Washington Commanders in the NFL.
In both cases, Trump attended the games and was seen as a potential factor in the teams' losses. The "curse" has also been linked to the US team's poor performance in the 2025 Ryder Cup, which took place after Trump attended the opening day of the tournament. While there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of the "curse," it has become a popular and amusing topic of discussion among sports fans.
The Belgian Football Association's social media post has been seen as a clever and humorous reference to the "curse," and has been widely shared and commented on by fans. The post has also sparked renewed interest in the theory, with many fans jokingly expressing concern that their teams may be affected by the "curse" if Trump were to declare his support for them.
As the World Cup continues, the remaining teams will be hoping to avoid any potential "curse" and focus on their performances on the pitch. The tournament has already seen several upsets and surprises, and fans will be eager to see which teams will emerge victorious in the end. For now, the "Trump curse" remains a lighthearted and entertaining topic of discussion, adding to the excitement and drama of the World Cup.
