Team USA will be able to face Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 with its star striker after all.
Folarin Balogun was dealt a red card for a foul he committed during his match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. It was a conviction that not only ejected him from the game but also left his team playing shorthanded 10-on-11 for the remainder of the game and presumably came with a one-game suspension.
While the Stars and Stripes were able to pull off a 2–0 win without him, fans unleashed their fury at the call across the internet. Even forward Christian Pulisic and head coach Mauricio Pochettino denounced the call in post-match interviews. It then appeared they and the rest of Team USA would face their second elimination game of the World Cup without their top scorer.
However, FIFA announced on July 5 that Balogun does not have to serve that one-game suspension right away. In fact, he does not have to sit out a game for an entire year.
“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA announced. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
FIFA was able to make that decision based on Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years.”
The news triggered celebration among Team USA fans, including President Donald Trump.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,” he said on Truth Social.
Balogun will still have to serve a one-game suspension, but it won’t have to be during Team USA’s push for its first-ever World Cup championship.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) opposed FIFA’s decision. The group called it contradictory to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, which state that a red card means that a player will “automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match.”
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the association said.
Whether or not Balogun will take the pitch for Team USA will be determined on July 6.
