The U.S. men's national team's exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has revived a peculiar theory: that President Donald Trump's involvement in sports heralds defeat. The team's 4-1 loss to Belgium followed Trump's intervention with FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding a controversial red card. Though FIFA ultimately allowed the player to compete, the USMNT's performance was widely described as lackluster.

This latest flameout echoes similar incidents. The New York Knicks' sole loss in the 2026 NBA Finals occurred during a game Trump attended, leading some fans to perform a "cleansing" ritual at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks still won the championship. In November 2025, the Washington Commanders lost decisively to the Detroit Lions when Trump was present. The Lions subsequently struggled, missing the playoffs.

Further fueling the narrative, the U.S. team lost the 2025 Ryder Cup after Trump attended the first day of competition. While these occurrences are anecdotal, the pattern has generated significant social media discussion and renewed scrutiny of Trump's impact on sporting outcomes, raising questions for sports franchises and their fan bases about the perceived influence of his presence.