July 06, 2026
In his latest Quick Take, Ian Bremmer weighs in on President Trump’s intervention with FIFA after US star Flo Balogun received a red card suspension ahead of the team’s match against Belgium.
Ian says the scandal is not whether the red card was right. Reasonable people can make an argument either way.
“The corruption is not about the red card,” Ian says. “The corruption is that Trump made a phone call.” FIFA did not overturn the red card; it made the suspension disappear so Balogun could play against Belgium.
Ian says the US team did not ask for the help and did not need it. The Americans had already shown grit by winning while down a man. Now, if the Americans win, especially in a close match, the result risks being litigated and tarnished.
More For You
How do the choices of the past help us navigate the future? Microsoft's new video series explores pivotal moments in US history and the decisions that helped shape innovation, opportunity, and progress. By connecting historical turning points to today's technology and policy questions, the series offers a perspective on the choices that continue to shape what comes next. Watch the first episode here.
Most Popular
People vote in the legislative elections in Algiers, Algeria, on July 2, 2026. The electorate, including the diaspora, consists of 24,727,041 registered voters. These elections will elect the 407 members of the tenth legislature of the People's National Assembly (APN), with a mandate of five years.
Billel Bensalem/APP/NurPhoto
Algerians are headed to the polls today to elect their next members of parliament. However, hopes for true democracy look more remote than ever.
Smoke rises from an oil refinery following a Ukrainian drone attack in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, in Moscow, Russia, on June 18, 2026.
SOCIAL MEDIA/via REUTERS
Ukraine’s recent burst of strikes on Russia’s oil facilities is starting to take a toll.
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez underestimated how many people would apply.
© 2025 GZERO Media. All Rights Reserved | A Eurasia Group media company.