The USMNT received a significant lift ahead of Monday night’s World Cup last-16 meeting with Belgium after FIFA suspended the one-match ban issued to striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to play.
The governing body stepped in unexpectedly on Sunday morning, putting on hold the automatic suspension that followed the forward’s red card on July 1.
Balogun, 25, was dismissed during the United States’ recent win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.
The tackle first looked relatively harmless in real time, but replay footage suggested the striker’s studs caught and dragged down his opponent’s leg. Even so, the call prompted a fierce reaction online, with many supporters urging officials to overturn the punishment.
Those fans have now been handed the outcome they wanted, with FIFA confirming only days later that Balogun’s one-game suspension has been paused, making him eligible for Monday’s match.
US President Donald Trump was among those to welcome the decision, posting on Truth Social on Sunday: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!”
FIFA has suspended the one-match ban issued to US striker Folarin Balogun earlier this week
Balogun was shown a red card for a challenge in the United States’ 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday morning to praise FIFA for ‘doing what was right’
Meanwhile, in their own statement, FIFA said: ‘In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.
‘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.’
In response, the USMNT said: ‘We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow.
‘Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.’
The Daily Mail understands that the USMNT were informed about the decision on Sunday morning, before Balogun was told at a team meeting shortly afterwards.
Balogun broke his silence on the matter in the days that followed the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, insisting that he felt a yellow card would’ve been fair.
‘First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call,’ he told reporters on Friday.
‘I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There’s not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it’s happened, and it’s something that I have to accept and move forward from.’
Under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s tournament regulations, the dismissal automatically carries a mandatory one-game suspension.
The decision to show Balogun a straight red card sparked widespread fury on social media
‘I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional,’ Balogun had said
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pictured alongside Donald Trump last month
Multiple FIFA officials had previously confirmed that national teams are prohibited from formally appealing red cards or the subsequent disciplinary sanctions.
However, the governing body’s judicial committee utilized a rare stipulation within Article 27 of the disciplinary code to circumvent the immediate ban.
The specific regulation allows the committee to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
The disciplinary body recently applied the exact same probationary regulation to Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the tournament.
The forward was initially facing a ban following a violent conduct dismissal during a World Cup qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland in November 2025.
Ronaldo was sent off after catching defender Dara O’Shea with a trailing elbow during a 2-0 defeat in Dublin.
However, after the Portugal captain served a one-game suspension during the team’s subsequent 9-1 victory over Armenia, FIFA intervened.
The governing body suspended the final two matches of the ban under a one-year probation period, clearing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to lead his country from the start of the current tournament.
