MAGA Bets on Trump's World Cup Gambit—and Loses Interest
TL;DR
Pro‑Trump voices cheered Trump’s move to get Balogun’s red-card suspension overturned for the Belgium game, even tying it to odds on the U.S. win, but after the U.S. 4–1 loss conservatives quickly dropped the sport, labeling soccer as “gay.” The piece argues this shows MAGA’s support for Trump’s meddling is transactional and short‑lived when outcomes disappoint.
- MAGA Loves Trump’s World Cup Meddling—Until We Lose The Bulwark
- All the presidents’ meddling: the Balogun scandal shows how Fifa can break football | Barney Ronay The Guardian
- The World Cup Stood as a Break From U.S. Politics. Then Trump Got Involved. The New York Times
- Trump's FIFA call opens a 'slippery slope,' says sports columnist Christine Brennan NPR
- How FIFA came to its controversial decision on Folarin Balogun CNN
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