FIFA has cleared United States striker Folarin Balogun to feature in Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium after suspending the automatic one-match ban that followed his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The world football governing body announced that its Disciplinary Committee had upheld an appeal and suspended the application of Balogun’s automatic suspension for a probationary period of one year under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Balogun was sent off following a VAR review during the United States’ victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, the dismissal would ordinarily have resulted in an automatic suspension for the team’s next match.
However, The New York Times reported that United States President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday to request a review of the Arsenal-born forward’s suspension. Citing three sources familiar with the conversation, the newspaper said the ruling marks the first time since 1962 that a player has been permitted to play despite an automatic suspension resulting from a direct red card.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), which described the ruling as surprising and inconsistent with FIFA’s disciplinary regulations.
The Belgian federation argued that the decision contradicts Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Regulations, both of which stipulate that a player dismissed with a direct red card must automatically miss the team’s next match.
According to the RBFA, the automatic suspension rule has been applied consistently throughout the tournament, reiterated in FIFA Circular No. 16 issued to participating member associations and reinforced during official pre-match coordination meetings.
The federation said it is considering all available legal options to safeguard the integrity of the competition.
The ruling was welcomed by the White House, while President Trump also celebrated the outcome on his Truth Social platform. FIFA has not provided additional details beyond its official disciplinary decision.
Balogun is now available for selection as the United States takes on Belgium in Seattle on Monday, with a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at stake.
