The whole world thought the United States would have to be without its star striker, Folarin Balogun, for its crucial World Cup round-of-16 game against Belgium.Balogun had been shown a straight red card in the U.S.’s previous World Cup match, the 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-game ban, which multiple FIFA officials had told The Athletic could not be appealed.But on Sunday afternoon, just a day before the USMNT faces Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle, The Athletic revealed Balogun would, in fact, be available. This was later confirmed by statements from FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, and U.S. Soccer. “The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said.Balogun’s red card for a foul on Bosnia’s defender Tarik Muharemovic proved controversial at the time, with U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino and winger Christian Pulisic among those to criticize the decision immediately after Wednesday’s game.It is no surprise, then, that the decision from FIFA’s disciplinary committee — which has the power to increase bans, as well as fully or partially suspend them — has also triggered a sizeable reaction, starting from the very top.“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social.‘I thought it was AI’Balogun’s U.S. teammates, meanwhile, found out about the decision on the team bus to training at the University of Washington on Sunday. “Obviously, for us it gives us a boost,” Pulisic told reporters at training.