Rapinoe: Trump’s Intervention Undermined USMNT’s ‘Underdog’ World Cup Spirit

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe suggested that former President Donald Trump’s involvement in the U.S. Men’s National Team’s (USMNT) World Cup campaign inadvertently sabotaged their crucial “underdog” advantage. Speaking on “The Daily Show,” Rapinoe elaborated on how Trump’s attention, particularly his reported call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino regarding a red card incident, may have disrupted the team’s momentum.

Trump’s Reported FIFA Call and Rapinoe’s Reaction

The conversation arose when “The Daily Show” host Desi Lydic inquired about the impact of a red card issued to U.S. player Folarin Balogun during a Round of 32 match, a game that was eventually suspended. Trump had publicly acknowledged contacting FIFA President Infantino to seek a review of the penalty.

“Certainly not well, it didn’t give them the boost, maybe, that they were thinking it would or that Trump was hoping that it would,” Rapinoe stated regarding the effect of Trump’s intervention. “I don’t know. It seemed like it kind of like, threw them off their game.”

Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup champion with the U.S. Women’s National Team, expressed that while the team had cultivated a positive “vibe,” the external attention proved detrimental. “But it didn’t go well. They had, like, such a good vibe,” she recalled. “I feel like they had, like, the underdog kind of vibe going. And then you-know-who got involved, and everyone was like, nope. No. We don’t like it. And then, obviously, Belgium was like, ‘No, we absolutely can’t lose to this team now.'”

The ‘Underdog’ Mentality and External Distractions

Rapinoe, who has been open about her own experiences with public scrutiny and advocacy, noted that the USMNT, unlike some more seasoned squads, might have lacked the internal resilience to navigate such high-profile distractions. She pointed out that many players on the current men’s team are not accustomed to the intense public discourse that often surrounds prominent athletes, particularly when engaging with political figures.

“I think the distraction got to the team for sure in some type of way,” Rapinoe explained on her podcast, “A Touch More: The Beautiful Game.” “Whether it was, you know, this red card situation, whether it was being in a public discourse with this president, all of the, you know, shenanigans and chaos that comes with the feelings on both sides of that. Whether you agree with it or not it’s — it’s just like it’s a lot to contend with.”

She further elaborated, “So, not only does this team not have like a core of older players who are used to that, but none of these players talk about anything ever, like for the most part.” Rapinoe contrasted this with the broader landscape of men’s professional soccer, suggesting a general reluctance among players to leverage their platforms for broader societal engagement or to embrace additional pressure.

“I think in men’s football, just like in general, there’s not a lot of players who are choosing to use their platform or to, you know, broaden their scope of pressure and responsibility,” she observed.

Player Perspectives on ‘Outside Noise’

The U.S. men’s national team ultimately fell to Belgium in the Round of 16. Following the defeat, Folarin Balogun himself acknowledged the impact of external factors. Speaking to CBS in mid-July, Balogun shared his perspective on the “outside noise” that preceded the match.

“My initial reaction was I was happy to be back in the team, but when I kind of started to reflect, I knew it was going to cause a lot of controversy, and I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves, because it is something that is so unique,” Balogun told CBS. “The closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could, but it was difficult. A lot of outside noise and that’s hard to avoid.”

Rapinoe’s comments highlight a recurring theme in high-stakes sports: the delicate balance between team cohesion, performance, and the unavoidable influence of external events and public attention. While the exact impact of any single intervention remains speculative, Rapinoe’s perspective offers a compelling analysis of how political and media attention can ripple through the competitive environment of a major sporting event.

A statement attributed to White House spokesman Davis Ingle, provided to Fox News Digital, offered a contrasting view, praising Trump’s role in the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s success. “No other president in history could have pulled off the historic feat that President Trump delivered for the American people and the world. Thanks to his bold vision and decisive leadership, the 2026 FIFA World Cup generated billions of dollars in revenue, created a massive economic boost across host cities, and delivered a safe, secure, and seamless experience for millions of fans and athletes from around the globe. It will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest and most successful sporting events in history,” the statement read.