#570: How FIFA lost control of the World Cup

#570: How FIFA lost control of the World Cup

July 7, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 570

About this episode

The episode discusses FIFA's controversial decision regarding Folarin Balogun's red card suspension and its implications for the World Cup.

On Sunday, FIFA shocked the world by announcing that American striker Folarin Balogun’s red card had been suspended, allowing the USMNT’s World Cup leading scorer to play in yesterday’s Round of 16 match against Belgium. That decision set off a flurry of conversations about fairness and opportunity at the World Cup — particularly after a certain president inserted himself into the narrative. Today, co-hosts Ellen Hyslop and Steph Rotz break down the situation, detailing how FIFA’s controversial decision sparked outrage from other competing nations, inciting chaos and tainting the legacy of this tourney. S how notes: The GIST: 📰 Newsletter: Subscribe to The GIST ✉️ Email: pod@thegistsports.com 📷 Instagram: @thegistusa @ellenatthegist @stephanierotz

People in this episode

Hosts: Ellen Hyslop, Steph Rotz

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: FIFA

Places: United States, Belgium

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