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Balogun narrowly missed out on USA vs Belgium in the last 16 but is now available as FIFA surprisingly ends his suspension.
Published on 5 Jul 2026
In a surprise move, FIFA has lifted one ban for United States midfielder Folarin Balogun, ensuring his presence in the World Cup’s last 16 match against Belgium.
Balogun stepped on the right foot of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic in the Round of 32 match which the USA won 2-0. He received a red card, which also ruled the American player out of action against Belgium – until FIFA announced a U-turn on Sunday.
“In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the match suspension is a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said.
“If Folarin Balogun again violates the same gravity condition during the probation period, the suspension will be lifted and the punishment will be enforced without prejudice to any other punishment that will be imposed for the new violation.”
The judicial body has the right to completely or partially prevent the imposition of a penalty.
Shortly after announcing FIFA, US President Donald Trump thanked the world football governing body.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing good, and ending a great injustice!” Trump posted on his Truth Social page.
Unsurprisingly, the US soccer governing body has accepted FIFA’s decision to allow their World Cup goalscorer to play in the most important match.
“We accept the Disciplinary Committee’s decision and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” US Soccer said in a statement.
The 25-year-old, who has scored three goals in his four appearances in the competition, said on Friday that a yellow card instead of a red would have been a fair punishment for his actions.
“There is nowhere else to put your foot. It is inevitable,” Balogun told reporters in the USA.
“So, I’ve seen different opinions and adopted them. But, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. This is what happened, so we have to move on and I have to accept it.”
The Belgian team has not commented on Balogun’s presence at the game in Seattle on Monday.
Balogun has been helping the USA advance in the tournament and has won the Player of the Match award twice.
He also needs one more goal to join Bert Patenaude as the USA men’s player with the most goals in a single World Cup. Patenaude excelled at the first World Cup in 1930.
Michelle Akers holds the record for most goals scored by a USA player at the World Cup. She scored 10 goals during the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991.
