Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas were engaged in a tense argument over Fifa’s handling of Folarin Balogun’s suspension during Fox Sport’s World Cup 2026 coverage.
The United States forward was handed a reprieve by Fifa after President Donald Trump intervened and encouraged Fifa President Gianni Infantino to review the one-game suspension after a sending off against Bosnia.
Fifa’s Disciplinary Committee pointed to article 27 of their Disciplinary Code to suspend Balogun’s one-match ban for a period of 12 months, while also fining the player and the USMNT $40,000 between the two parties, despite Uefa accusing the world governing body of “crossing a red line”.
The USMNT eventually lost 4-1 to Belgium, with Henry claiming that Trump’s intervention and Fifa’s decision inspired the international team where he previously held a role as assistant coach.
And Henry explained his stance clearly once again, telling anchor Rebecca Lowe: “What I said, I don’t think people understood, when I raised Article 27, that was sarcasm, I thought people would understand that, but they didn’t, so I’ll say it again, I do agree with the fact that it wasn’t a red, because if I was a player I wouldn’t have accepted that, I don’t agree with how they rescinded the red. What Fifa did wasn’t right, it was the right thing in terms of not giving the red. It should have been a decision on the field, not after three or four days, I didn’t agree with that at all.”
Lalas then interjected: “Why wasn’t it right?”
Henry replied: “Because it is not right. Article 27 doesn’t say that, that’s my opinion, what Fifa did, wasn’t right, it wasn’t a red, but what Fifa did, wasn’t right, it fired up Belgium. Look at the celebration, the dancing at the end, everything that was there. It wasn’t right.”
Lalas then referenced Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension overturned ahead of the World Cup finals: “So Ronaldo shouldn’t have played in the World Cup either?”
Henry added: “No, you say whatever you want to say, I’m talking about the Balogun situation, let’s talk about Cristiano Ronaldo [after Portugal exited the World Cup following defeat to Spain].”
But Lalas refused to drop the debate in a tense moment, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic sat between the pair of analysts.
The former USMNT star asked: “Hold on, what’s not right about it?”
Henry maintained: “That’s my opinion.”
Lalas then maintained Fifa “didn’t break any rules or regulations,” with Henry starting to lose patience and reiterating, “I said it, and I’ll say it again, the way it happened afterwards, I didn’t agree with it, that’s about it.”
But Lalas, unwilling to allow Henry to have the final word, summarised his interpretation of the former France international’s opinion: “The right decision was come to by the wrong way also when it comes to Cristiano Ronaldo.”
Henry then ended the debate, concluding: “That’s on you to talk about.”
