Folarin Balogun of the United States talks to the media during a World Cup 2026 training session at Great Park Sports Complex on June 22, 2026 in Irvine, California. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by JAMIE SQUIRE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
FIFA has cleared United States forward Folarin Balogun to play in the country’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium after overturning the suspension that followed his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun, who scored the winning goal in the USA’s Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, had been sent off later in the match, triggering an automatic one-match suspension.
However, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee reversed the suspension ahead of Monday’s knockout fixture in Seattle after determining that the implementation of the disciplinary measure should be suspended, as reported by Fox Sports on Sunday.
The decision came despite the fact that the United States Soccer Federation had no formal avenue to appeal the red card under FIFA regulations.
