In one of the most shocking off-field storylines of the tournament, USA striker Folarin Balogun is eligible to face Belgium after FIFA overturned a red card suspension that looked to be set in stone days earlier.
How the controversy began
Balogun was sent off after stepping on defender Tarik Muharemović’s foot in the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on Wednesday at Levi’s Stadium.
The red card came with an automatic one-match suspension under FIFA’s disciplinary code with no route for appeal, meaning USA boss Mauricio Pochettino will be without his top scorer for the Belgium clash.
Breaking: Folarin Balogun will be available to play in USA’s Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday, FIFA announced.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has suspended the red card issued to the USA striker during their Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. pic.twitter.com/Vei4RKDKfP
— ESPN (@espn) July 5, 2026
Astonishing reversal by FIFA
FIFA said on Sunday that Balogun’s suspension would be paused for a one-year probationary period under Article 27 of its disciplinary code under which judicial bodies can suspend enforcement of a sanction.
Critics were quick to point out that Article 66.4 of that same code called for automatic suspensions for red cards and that no earlier dismissal at this World Cup had been treated the same way.
Political Pressure Comes Into Play
President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to push for a review of the decision, multiple outlets reported.
White House officials including Andrew Giuliani and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were also said to be in contact with FIFA but the details of the calls have not been confirmed by the White House.
The White House reportedly contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun’s red card.
After Balogun’s one-match suspension was lifted, President Donald Trump thanked FIFA on Truth Social for “doing what was right” and reversing what he called “a… pic.twitter.com/8s5z5l5v8N
— Complex (@Complex) July 5, 2026
Belgium Responds with Fury
Belgium’s football federation said it was blindsided by the ruling, with Belgium’s own Nathan Ngoy also receiving a suspension for a red card against Iran with no exception.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked the timing of the announcement while UEFA separately called the decision unprecedented and unjustifiable.
It is understood Belgium have been cleared to appeal FIFA’s decision, per The Athletic
The Royal Belgian Football Association have released a statement following FIFA’s decision to allow the USA’s Folarin Balogun to play on Monday despite picking up a red card in his team’s Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/iN2jK9tJ4f
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 5, 2026
The USA’s Perspective
Pochettino defended the result and said his side had already paid a price by playing with 10 men against Bosnia for about 30 minutes.
Balogun, who is the USA’s top scorer of the tournament with three goals, now faces Belgium in Monday’s Round of 16 tie in Seattle.
