It's safe to say: The 2026 FIFA world cup is scripted

[Sandra_hakeem]

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee suspended Folarin Balogons's one-match ban for a probationary period of one year. The stunning and highly unusual decision allows him to take the field for the United States against Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16.

FIFA invoked Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows the implementation of an automatic match suspension to be placed on hold under probation. The red card technically remains on his record, but the punishment is paused. If he commits a similar foul within the next year, the ban will be immediately enforced.

The LINK has more detailed information about this unusual changes.

Fabrizio Romano has even confirmed this to be true? When will Trump stop making everything about himself and give a chance for a fair play? Is there no such thing as a loss for him, that even when they're in a brink of defeat, he rigs the game by convincing the FIFA president to invoke an article that will stand as an excuse for him to cheat? Can other clubs apply to get the same treatment as USA or does it apply to them alone? This is not what we knew the world cup to be; it's not worth the wait, should be organized annually then. Meh.

[Davidvictorson]

At this point, I am going to believe speculations or theories about this 2026 World Cup especially after watching the Paraguay match yesterday.
Many crazy things are happening that we don’t even see or hear about on the surface.
I have a feeling that we are going to see more of these type FIFA rule-bending or eye-turning decisions.

[Stepstowealth]

This decision is going to raise a lot of controversy because it clearly shows that there has been some interference most likely from the White House on the decision to help the host nation not have a reduced advantage in trying to qualify for the next round. But the only chance for FIFA I think if they are to escape this is for them to also use that discretionary rights to step in Overturn another disciplinary action against another player in this competition most likely as the competition progresses to ensure that what is good for one player is also good for another player and not just because one other player whom they did it for is from the host nation.

[Alpha Marine]

No, it is not scripted.
This is not the first time a clause like this has been invoked, though. I think in the 2024 Euros, the same thing happened to Bellingham. He was suspended and was supposed to miss one match, but this same article was invoked, and he was eligible to play against Switzerland.

FIFA also invoked Article 27 to place the remaining 2 matches in Ronaldo's suspension on probation. This is why Ronaldo was eligible to play the first two World Cup games for Portugal.
I can't say corruption is involved as everybody other person echos, but there is politics involved. This happens in everything. The laws and articles were put in place for a reason. It's not like they just pulled a reason out of their ass.
It's not an ideal situation because Balogun's tackle was actually worth the red card, which FIFA doesn't deny, but it's not new.

[EFS]

It's strange to see conspiracy theories making their way into the World Cup too. We already hear enough of that stuff in local leagues all year round. One thing is clear though, USA have done a very poor job hosting this World Cup. It started with the visa problems players had to deal with and now it's carrying over to the decisions being made on the pitch.

Whether Balogun plays the next match or not isn't going to have much of an impact on the tournament. Belgium have every right to complain but they probably weren't going to go in further rounds anyway. It's pretty much clear which teams reach semi finals. These decisions won't change the final outcome.

[Asiska02]

It's strange to see conspiracy theories making their way into the World Cup too. We already hear enough of that stuff in local leagues all year round. One thing is clear though, USA have done a very poor job hosting this World Cup. It started with the visa problems players had to deal with and now it's carrying over to the decisions being made on the pitch.

Whether Balogun plays the next match or not isn't going to have much of an impact on the tournament. Belgium have every right to complain but they probably weren't going to go in further rounds anyway. It's pretty much clear which teams reach semi finals. These decisions won't change the final outcome.

If we look at it in this aspect, it is fair to say that Trump cannot change the referees in-play decisions when they play against Belgium on Tuesday. Balogun may be their big striker that they’re really looking up to, he might still not be that impactful in the match and this will not change the outcome of the game. If that will be the last game of the American team in this World Cup, this decision is not going to change it.

I’m already anticipating to see foul plays in that game in favour of USA, we will watch closely on that day. Trump behaves like a dictator sometimes, and this is why in events like this, he shouldn’t even try to interfere or even publishing a thank you message to FIFA for lifting the ban against Balogun.

[danadc]

According to The Economist magazine, there's always a script for everything, even the World Cup. From what I've seen, there are many illegal things. Some say there aren't, but I know it's true: favoritism and things that make you think badly. There are many teams who say it's not like that, but I'm sure that things in football have always been manipulated, and that has already been proven.

[Rgram]

At this point, I am going to believe speculations or theories about this 2026 World Cup especially after watching the Paraguay match yesterday.
Many crazy things are happening that we don’t even see or hear about on the surface.
I have a feeling that we are going to see more of these type FIFA rule-bending or eye-turning decisions.

The Paraguay match yesterday is one game that I couldn’t really understand how it was officiated. I really did think that at some point, someone was getting red carded and we would see a Paraguayan player sent off but, to my surprise, we didn’t see a yellow carded called out on any of the obvious fouls. Their was a lot of dirty play in that game, some obvious fouls that should be called out immediately but, none of that happened, even with the VAR, there wasn't any intervention and the referee didn’t even bother calling out fouls that happened right before him! That was crazy!!!

[BRINIRHA]

Conditions like this have happened to some other players too but this is indeed the most akward World Cup for me because the organizers did do some bad things and even I would say too much intervention made by USA in this World Cup this time that should not be done.

The Visa ran into problems from the start for some players, it was too much commercial and some decisions from FIFA and referees were also questionable but this had to be done until the end.

For this player issue I feel that Belgium will definitely not accept especially when Folarin Balogons play well later but they also can't do much to anticipate this because the decision is already made. But for the final result it doesn't seem like it will have any effect until the end because even though they can win, I doubt these two teams will be there until the end.

[TryNinja]

It's strange to see conspiracy theories making their way into the World Cup too.

This is FIFA's own fault. Maybe they should follow their own rules and preach their refs for more consistency inside the field, then people would not create conspiracy theories.

You doubt FIFA would want USA to keep going for as much hype money as possible, especially through the cup being hoste by the USA, with their rivers of money?

[Accardo]

Trump's interference in FIFA rule truthfully is unacceptable, but he's known for his bragging rights, and has gotten better at doing a thing like that, few months after the world cup, in a press conference, you'd watch him making fun out of what just happened between him and the Fifa President, regarding the red card issued to the American player, which he tagged as an injustice. Trump has come up to be a leader of all trades, he gets to be seen anywhere America is found, and he doesn't mind whether he's causing damages or breaking rules, all he cares about is America First.

[Solodoski]

As Trump is involved in the world cup, trust me FIFA got no balls to make decision on what is right. We all see what is happening, how unfair they have been to national officials, referees as a result of racism and religion sentiment. If FIFA cant say or do anything about it who are we to say them. I'm beginning to accept what people are saying about the world cup not being fair. It is not fair at all. Must politics be involved in all things?

[Hispo]

I would not go as far as saying this tournament is inherently rigged or being fixed, but there is definitely weird stuff going on. And the reason there are some many conspiracy theories about the world cup is because the United States is acting as host of the tournament within it's territory, and also because the Trump administration has been specially lax when comes to prediction markets.
Actually, there have been some allegations about Trump and his family betting involved directly on prediction markets, in order to profit heavily, thanks to their privileged information.

If people believe government is corrupt, when they have all the right to believe they are acting in a shady way on this World Cup.

[Alonso_]

I’m starting to think that it might just be true that the FIFA World Cup is scripted, because I don’t see any reason why Balogun red card would be just overturned immediately without him serving a suspension, when you look at it closely you will understand that there is some foul play from FIFA, I wouldn’t be in doubt that FIFA would want to script the FIFA World Cup Tournament in such a way that United States would be winning the World Cup, anything can happen in Football and nobody would know anything in such a situation that anything can possibly happen in football, so I don’t trust FIFA they can do the unthinkable.

[shinratensei_]

WC is not scipted. It's only FIFA who is suspending player suspension, which is just a common tihng for them. They have been doing it all time to their stars. So i'm not surprised with this because they often did it.

No, it is not scripted.
This is not the first time a clause like this has been invoked, though. I think in the 2024 Euros, the same thing happened to Bellingham. He was suspended and was supposed to miss one match, but this same article was invoked, and he was eligible to play against Switzerland.

FIFA also invoked Article 27 to place the remaining 2 matches in Ronaldo's suspension on probation. This is why Ronaldo was eligible to play the first two World Cup games for Portugal.
I can't say corruption is involved as everybody other person echos, but there is politics involved. This happens in everything. The laws and articles were put in place for a reason. It's not like they just pulled a reason out of their ass.
It's not an ideal situation because Balogun's tackle was actually worth the red card, which FIFA doesn't deny, but it's not new.

Yeah, i see it, there is no also law in article 27 that says it can't be applied during the world cup.