Trump pressured FIFA to lift a US star player's suspension before the World Cup match against Belgium — a win for the team on the field, but an embarrassing look for America off it.

• Balogun got a red card and a one-match ban for a hard tackle against Bosnia, a call many saw as too harsh since he hit the ball first and showed no clear intent.
• FIFA's own rules said this type of red card could not be appealed, yet FIFA reversed it anyway after the Trump administration got involved.
• Commerce Secretary Lutnick, Andrew Giuliani, and lawyers hired by a hedge-fund donor all pushed FIFA, even raising old match-fixing claims against the referee that investigators found no proof for.
• The reversal taints any US result, especially since FIFA recently handed Trump a made-up peace prize — a sign it may be bending to US pressure.

Outlook: The US plays Belgium with its full squad, but the political meddling will hang over the result no matter who wins.