Trump should've stayed out of World Cup | Letter

Center back Miles Robinson is playing for the United States in the World Cup this summer. Look back at some photos of the FC Cincinnati star in this gallery. Here, he arrives at the stadium before a match against Paraguay on June 12.

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Center back Miles Robinson is playing for the United States in the World Cup this summer. Look back at some photos of the FC Cincinnati star in this gallery. Here, he arrives at the stadium before a match against Paraguay on June 12.

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Miles Robinson of the U.S. during training on June 11.

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Miles Robinson of the U.S. during training on June 10.

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Miles Robinson and Matt Freese of the U.S. during training on June 8.

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Folarin Balogun, Miles Robinson, Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie of the U.S. during training on June 11.

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Robinson poses with his jersey during the United States World Cup roster reveal on May 26.

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Sep 13: Nashville SC forward Sam Surridge battles for the ball against Miles Robinson.

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Columbus Crew forward Ibrahim Aliyu chases down a ball in front of FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson during the first half of the MLS soccer match at Lower.com Field in Columbus on May 17, 2025.

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Sep 13: FC Cincinnati defender Robinson passes the ball against Nashville SC.

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Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi shoots past FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson during the second game of the first round MLS Cup Playoffs match on Nov. 2. The Crew won 4-0.

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Robinson handles the ball during the second half of the League Cup play between FC Cincinnati and FC Juárez at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

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Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi dribbles against FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson and midfielder Pavel Bucha in the first half at TQL Stadium.

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FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson handles the ball against Atlanta United in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, May 25, 2025.

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Austin FC forward CJ Fodrey and FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson compete for the ball in the second half of the MLS match at TQL Stadium, May 10, 2025.

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Robinson warms up before a match against New York City FC at Citi Field, May 4, 2025.

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FC Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson takes the ball down the field during a match against Atlanta United FC.

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Robinson prepares to pass in the first half of the MLS match between the FC Cincinnati and the Colorado Rapids at TQL Stadium, April 27, 2024.

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Robinson heads the ball back in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the New York Red Bulls, April 6, 2024 at TQL Stadium.

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Robinson chases Monterrey defender Jesus Gallardo in the first half of the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16 game between FC Cincinnati and Monterrey at TQL Stadium March 7, 2024.

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Robinson heads the ball as Toronto FC midfielder Jonathan Osorio defends in the first half of the MLS soccer game between FC Cincinnati and Toronto FC at TQL stadium on Feb. 25, 2024.

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Robinson of the United States elbows Luis Rodriguez of Mexico on the chin during the second half of a 2022 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying match, Nov. 12, 2021 at TQL Stadium.

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Robinson and Zack Steffen of the United States stop a shot on goal in the second half of a 2022 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying match between Mexico and USA at TQL Stadium, Nov. 12, 2021.

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Robinson heads the ball in the second half of a 2022 World Cup CONCACAF qualifying match between Mexico and USA at TQL Stadium, Nov. 12, 2021.

What I know about soccer wouldn’t fill a Bic pen. Even when my kids were playing, I considered myself the perfect sideline parent because I could not shout anything but “good kick” or “great goal!” I wouldn’t know that a player was offside unless a giant neon sign told me so.

I don’t know whether the red card given to Folarin Balogun was fair. I have looked at the footage and the photos, and it sure looks like he stepped on his opponent’s turned ankle. A highly trained soccer official said he did it, and who am I to argue?

I guess that what little I know about soccer, Donald Trump knows even less. So, it was totally inappropriate for President Trump to exert his influence on the president of FIFA in getting the ruling overturned. This is the same president of FIFA who awarded Trump the inaugural FIFA Soccer World Peace Prize after he was denied the Nobel Prize he so badly wanted.

It made us look bad. It made Team USA look bad. If the team had a spine, it would have publicly thanked Trump and then benched Balogun. Or Balogun would have benched himself.

But we know that didn’t happen. Until this embarrassing moment, the continuous news coverage of the World Cup had been about the graciousness and spirit of the United States, and stories about ranch dressing. That has shifted to a narrative about winning at all costs. Winning because the head of the international organization that is sponsoring this tournament wants Trump to like him − an advantage that no other soccer club has.

Turns out, it was all for naught. Team USA lost anyway. At least they spared themselves the embarrassment of having an asterisk behind every win.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trump should’ve stayed out of World Cup | Letter