By Weston Blasi

Some industry experts are predicting all-time viewing records for a U.S. soccer game

Folarin Balogun of the U.S. speaks to the media prior to a training session for the 2026 World Cup at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is likely to set another record on Monday night when the U.S. men's national team squares off against Belgium.

While the U.S. team has seen record TV ratings for its games so far, those may pale in comparison to what is expected tonight after a series of controversies that has enveloped the team's leading goal-scorer, FIFA and the White House.

U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received a controversial red card in the U.S.'s previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, meaning he would normally be suspended for the team's next game. But FIFA's disciplinary committee decided to postpone the match suspension, notably after President Donald Trump made a call to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FIFA and the White House have downplayed the significance of the call between Trump and Infantino, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The controversy of the on-again, off-again suspension for Balogun, combined with the record ratings in previous U.S. games and the insertion of the White House into the situation, has created an awareness around the game that could break ratings records for a U.S. soccer game.

"Generally, controversy tends to stimulate fan curiosity, I would not be surprised if this leads to all-time viewing," super-agent Leigh Steinberg, who represents NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, among other star athletes, told MarketWatch. "FIFA acted correctly in vacating Folarin Balogun's red card."

Trump addressed the situation, and his call with Infantino, at the White House on Monday.

"All I did was ask for a review. I didn't say, 'you have to do this,'" Trump said. "This man is a smart, tough man, Gianni Infantino. He's a smart, tough man, and his stock has gone through the roof because the job he has done has been great. I feel like we have to have all the best players on the field."

Infantino also released a statement, saying FIFA's judicial bodies are independent

"During our conversation, I explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA's independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies. That is how FIFA's system works, and it is a principle that I will always uphold...I read the decisions of the FIFA disciplinary committee when they are issued. Sometimes I am surprised by them. Sometimes I agree with them, and sometimes I disagree," Infantino said Monday.

The U.S. men are seeking to qualify for their first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002.

Of course there are other factors, in addition to the controversy, that may lead to increased interest in the game, and the World Cup overall.

Bob Mitchell, founder of Mitchell Partnership Alliances and adjunct professor at American University's Kogod School of Business, told MarketWatch that he believes that in addition to the controversy, the calendar has a big part in it too.

"The seasonal shift [summer, vs. winter four years ago] is one of the single biggest drivers behind these staggering viewership numbers," Mitchell said. "Mostly undivided sports-viewing attention since (except for MLB) more sports fans are available in the summer without NFL, NBA, NHL, etc."

And it's not just TV viewership; fan interest in the sports-betting industry could hit record levels too.

"The 2026 World Cup and the U.S. men's national team have captivated sports fans nationwide, and it's certainly showing in betting volume," Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, told MarketWatch. "Tonight's game is likely to be the largest non-football, single sports-betting event in U.S. history."

The U.S. plays Belgium at 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday night, and will be broadcast on Fox (FOX) (English) and Telemundo (Spanish).

-Weston Blasi

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.