Folarin Balogun’s 1-game ban suspended by FIFA, allowing US forward to play vs Belgium
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United States' Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the field after receiving a red card during the World Cup round of 32 football match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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United States' Folarin Balogun (20) fouls Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic (4) during the World Cup round of 32 football match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Balogun received a red card on the play. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
SEATTLE (AP) — Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban was surprisingly suspended by FIFA, clearing the American forward to play in the team’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, a decision that was praised by United States President Donald Trump and prompted outrage from the Red Devils.
Balogun, the American leader with three goals, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday.
A red card triggers an automatic one-game suspension, but American players learned of Balogun’s availability when social media posts started popping up during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from their hotel to training at the University of Washington’s Husky Soccer Stadium.
“I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,’” defender Chris Richards said. “We weren’t sure if it was true or not.”
Trump praised FIFA’s decision.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly made efforts to grow close to Trump, even awarding him a FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said in a social media post.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished.”
“The decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations,” it said in a statement.
“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.”
Balogun’s red card and suspension for the round of 16 match had been one of the most controversial and consequential decisions of the World Cup.
“If you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,” US star Christian Pulisic said.
“I felt like there was much worse ones that went on this tournament.”
The US Soccer Federation learned of the decision in a message sent by FIFA in its portal at 10:31 a.m. EDT.
“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.”
Balogun’s three goals included one to give the US the lead against Bosnia.
He has matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude’s four in the initial tournament in 1930.
A 25-year-old who plays for Monaco, Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season.
He has 12 goals in 30 international appearances.
He was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents who were living in London and in 2023 opted to change his national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.
“He strikes fear into a lot of defenders,” Richards said.
The host US is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
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