Belgium’s players took 90 minutes to dismantle the United States. Its social media admin needed less than 90 seconds.
Moments after a crushing 4-1 World Cup victory over the US, the Belgian Football Association posted a picture of forward Romelu Lukaku celebrating the Red Devils’ fourth goal alongside the caption: ‘Overturn this.’
It was a not-so-subtle dig at the controversy that had overshadowed the tie.
The row centerd on the American striker Folarin Balogun, who had originally been suspended after his red card in the USA’s round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That changed after US President Donald Trump decided to wade in and ask FIFA president and pal Gianni Infantino to review the decision.
FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-match ban, allowing him to face Belgium. Although it quickly became clear that one player wasn’t going to change the evening. The Europeans still dominated.
The somewhat ageing and unfancied Belgium side rather comfortably outplayed the co-hosts, whose World Cup campaign fizzled out in a performance littered with poor defensive mistakes.
The debate over Balogun’s availability suddenly looked rather less important than what was happening on the pitch.
The result also revived one of the internet’s favourite sporting theories of late.
Every time Trump appears anywhere near a major event, a section of social media becomes convinced that somebody’s about to have a very bad day. Due to some sort of sporting hex attached to the man.
Very few fans seriously claim that the president possesses supernatural powers over professional sport. But that hasn’t stopped the theory acquiring almost as much staying power as the amusing memes it produces.
Okay, let’s have some examples, shall we…?
Which teams have fallen victim of the ‘Trump curse’?
Trump attended Game 3 of this year’s NBA Finals, between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
The Knicks lost 115-111, ending a 13-game winning streak in what proved to be their only defeat of the series.
Some supporters responded by ‘cleansing’ Madison Square Garden rather than blaming the on-court performance. Kazeem Famuyide, the Emmy Award-winning host of the ‘Big Apple Buckets’ podcast, posted video of himself and friends burning sage outside the arena.
American football soon found itself dragged into the same conversation when Trump attended the Washington Commanders’ game against the Detroit Lions in November 2025. Detroit won 44-22 in front of a crowd that gave the president a mixed reception at FedEx Field.
During the game, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown celebrated a touchdown with the ‘Trump Dance’ before later apologising for the gesture.
The Lions’ season then unravelled as they lost five of their final eight games and missed the playoffs. Former NFL wide receiver Kenny Stills summed up the online reaction with two simple words: ‘Trump curse.’
Golf fans have also had their turn to join in. Trump attended the opening day of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black on Long Island as the United States slipped behind Europe.
With America trailing 3-1 after the morning session, he told reporters: ‘We’re going to get it done. One way or another, we’ll get it done.’ By the end of the day the hosts were 5½-2½ behind.
Europe eventually completed a 15-13 victory. The tournament also ended with the president of the PGA of America apologising for chants aimed at Team Europe that he described as ‘disrespectful.’
None of those defeats prove that any sporting curse exists, of course. They do, however, explain why Belgium’s social media post spread so quickly after full time.
Its players had already done the difficult part. The savvy social media admin simply spotted an open goal and, unlike the United States, didn’t miss their chance.
The eight teams still left in the World Cup will be praying that the Commander-in-Chief doesn’t declare his support for them and turn up at the stadium waving a scarf around and dooming them to defeat.
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