Following the United States men's national team's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a defeat to Belgium, former US women's national team player Megan Rapinoe has attributed part of the blame to President Donald Trump. Speaking on her podcast, Rapinoe argued that the controversy surrounding Trump's involvement in the tournament served as a distraction that affected the team's performance. The claim has drawn criticism from conservative commentators, making it a talking point in the wider political and sporting discourse.

The central issue was the red card and subsequent suspension of US star Folarin Balogun, a decision widely regarded as a poor call. Trump reportedly telephoned FIFA, which then permitted Balogun to play under the same rule that had previously allowed Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo to feature in similar circumstances ahead of Monday's match. Rapinoe suggested that the "public discourse" and "chaos" surrounding the president's intervention was difficult for the players to contend with. The article, published by Fox News' OutKick, is written from a critical stance, noting that Rapinoe herself has frequently courted off-field political attention, and it includes reaction from figures such as Kellyanne Conway and Tomi Lahren.