By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, July 6 (Reuters) - FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended world soccer’s disciplinary process on Monday amid mounting international criticism after U.S. President Donald Trump praised FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red-card ban.

World Cup soccer star Folarin Balogun is playing for the United States due to birthright citizenship, a policy President Donald Trump has tried to sharply curtail.

With Folarin Balogun cleared to play, the U.S. aim for their first quarterfinal in 24 years in a high-stakes rematch against Belgium

Erling Haaland banged the drum to lead Norway fans in the Viking Row that has become a signature part of the World Cup. After celebrating carrying his nation into the quarterfinals of the tournament for the first time by scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil on Sunday,

Folarin Balogun has become the talking point of the World Cup, not for his brilliant performances with the US soccer team, but for his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The USMNT’s striker was set to miss the RO16 clash against Belgium after the rather controversial decision.

President Donald Trump’s reported effort to get a U.S. soccer star back on the field has sparked accusations of political hypocrisy. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that Trump successfully lobbied FIFA President Gianni Infantino to overturn the suspension of U.

The decision to reverse a one-game ban landed badly in Europe, at a moment of already-heightened geopolitical tension with the United States.

The owner of Soccer Stars Wichita said he expects an increase in signups for the fall.