Folarin Balogun said he “was happy to be back in the team” but “knew it was gonna cause a lot of controversy.”

“It wasn’t even a tackle,” Balogun said of the incident which sparked one of the 2026 World Cup's biggest controversies.

Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium despite being sent off in USA’s previous match

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The US striker’s red card was suspended after Donald Trump made a series of calls to Fifa president Gianni Infantino

Folarin Balogun admitted Tuesday that the suspension of his red card in the World Cup after President Donald Trump intervened put added pressure on the US team.

The Stars and Stripes saw their World Cup dreams harshly ended by Belgium in the round of 16.

Folarin Balogun admitted Tuesday that the suspension of his red card in the World Cup after President Donald Trump intervened

July 14 : U.S. striker Folarin Balogun said he knew FIFA's decision to suspend his one-game red-card ban at the World Cup would cause "a lot of controversy", after U.S. President…

Folarin Balogun said he “was happy to be back in the team” but “knew it was gonna cause a lot of controversy.”

The United States striker at the heart of red card scandal at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, Folarin Balogun, has admitted that he knew FIFA’s decision to suspend his one-game…