SEATTLE – In a surprising turn of events, FIFA has suspended the one-game ban of American forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to participate in the United States’ crucial World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium. This decision has garnered praise from U.S. President Donald Trump, while sparking outrage from the Belgian national team.
Balogun, who has emerged as a key player for the U.S. team with three goals in the tournament, received a red card for an incident involving Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia and Herzegovina during a 2-0 victory in the round of 32. The red card typically incurs an automatic one-game suspension, thus making FIFA’s announcement all the more unexpected.
News of Balogun’s eligibility for the match reached the U.S. players during their bus ride to training at the University of Washington’s Husky Soccer Stadium, causing initial disbelief among the squad. “I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,” remarked defender Chris Richards, highlighting the unusual nature of the announcement.
President Trump took to social media to express his approval of FIFA’s decision, stating, “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” This statement reflects the ongoing relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump, who has been awarded a FIFA Peace Prize in the past.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) expressed astonishment at FIFA’s ruling. In a statement, they emphasized that the decision contradicts the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations and indicated that they are exploring further options to address this unprecedented situation.
Balogun’s red card has been a topic of heated debate, with U.S. star Christian Pulisic asserting that there was minimal intent behind the foul. “If you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,” he stated, suggesting that there were more severe infractions during the tournament that went unpunished.
FIFA’s notification to the U.S. Soccer Federation, delivered through their official portal, confirmed the suspension of Balogun’s match suspension for a probationary period of one year. According to FIFA’s regulations, if Balogun commits another similar infringement within this timeframe, the ban will be enforced without prejudice to any additional sanctions.
Balogun’s contributions to the U.S. team are significant; he has matched Landon Donovan’s record for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, standing just behind Bert Patenaude’s four goals from the inaugural tournament in 1930. The 25-year-old currently plays for Monaco and has made a remarkable impact with 12 goals in 30 international appearances.
As the host nation, the U.S. team is eager to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, having faced early exits in previous tournaments. The pressure is mounting as they prepare for a crucial showdown against Belgium, a team they previously lost to in the round of 16 in 2014.
While the U.S. Soccer Federation has opted not to make Balogun available for comments, he has shared a light-hearted post on social media, featuring a photo in front of U.S. fans, overlaid with Michael Jackson’s hit song “Bad.” Following the initial red card incident, Balogun expressed that he believed a yellow card would have been a more appropriate punishment.
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary committee rules as the basis for its decision, allowing for the partial suspension of a disciplinary measure under certain circumstances. This ruling continues a trend seen in past tournaments, where notable players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Nicolás Otamendi have similarly benefited from deferred suspensions under specific conditions.
In a sport where the stakes are incredibly high, Balogun’s presence on the field could be a game-changer for the U.S. team as they aim for World Cup glory.
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AP Soccer Writer James Robson and AP Sports Writer Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.
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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
