NPR News: 07-06-2026 5PM EDT

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Ryland Barton· Host0:15

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The firestorm keeps growing around the U.S. Men's National Soccer team and its game today against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup. The team's star striker is expected to play today despite being shown a red card last week for stepping on an opposing player's ankle. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports.

Becky Sullivan0:36

Folarin Balogun said the contact was unintentional, and that he felt a yellow card would have been a better call, but he accepted the referee's decision and had expected to sit out. But then came Sunday's extraordinary events, FIFA's highly unusual decision to allow him to play, then the news that President Trump had personally called Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, to request a review. Infantino says Trump's call had no bearing on the Balogun decision. U.S. Soccer officials say they followed FIFA regulations in responding to and challenging the disciplinary decision. One issue in question was the video referee's use of slow-motion replay to escalate the call to a red card, in spite of the referee on the field thinking it hadn't been a foul at all. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Seattle.

Ryland Barton· Host1:14

President Trump says he's building a granite helipad on the White House lawn. The project's estimated to cost up to six million dollars and is said to be privately funded. Trump says the helipad is needed for new, more powerful presidential helicopters. Construction crews have already begun work