Belgium’s thumping 4-1 victory against the US in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 is oddly satisfying. From Iran not being allowed to camp in the US to strict security protocols for Uruguayan players, this edition of the tournament has been defined by geopolitical tensions, shifting the focus away from the pitch. And, Belgium just brought the spotlight back to football by eliminating the US.
The backlash reached a boiling point after FIFA broke its own disciplinary rules to recall a red card suspension for US striker Folarin Balogun following direct political lobbying from US President Donald Trump.The FIFA Disciplinary Committee applied Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, under which it has discretion to suspend the implementation of any disciplinary measures, and ordered that the implementation of the one-match suspension be suspended for a probationary period of one year.
“As a result, Balogun is not required to immediately serve the suspension. Instead, the sanction remains dormant during the probationary period and will only be activated if he commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during that one-year period,” FIFA said in a press release.The decision ignited furious accusations of corruption and institutional hypocrisy across the sporting world. Nonetheless, Balogun started the måatch against Belgium and displayed one of the worst performances with only 10 touches in the first half. Football’s answer
