FIFA Puts Balogun One-Match Ban on Hold, Clearing US Striker for Belgium Clash

SEATTLE (AP) — In an unexpected ruling, FIFA has put Folarin Balogun's mandatory one-match sanction on hold, freeing the United States forward to take the field when his side meets Belgium in the World Cup round of 16. The decision earned backing from United States President Donald Trump and fierce criticism from the Belgian camp.

Balogun, the Americans' leading scorer with three goals at the tournament, was dismissed for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemović during Wednesday's 2-0 round-of-32 win.

A red card carries an automatic one-game suspension, but US players only learned Balogun would be available when social media posts began surfacing during a 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 welcomed FIFA's move. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly sought closer ties with Trump, including 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 dismissal and the suspension that would have sidelined him for the round of 16 had been among the most controversial and consequential rulings 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 received notice of the decision in a message sent through FIFA's 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 the strike that put the United States ahead against Bosnia. He now shares second place with Landon Donovan's 2010 tally for the most goals by an American at a single World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude's four at the inaugural tournament in 1930.

The 25-year-old Monaco forward scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season and has 12 goals in 30 international appearances. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents living in London, he switched national team allegiance from England, which he had represented at under-21 level, to the United States in 2023.

"He strikes fear into a lot of defenders," Richards said.

As tournament hosts, the United States are aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.