Balogun was scheduled to miss the last-16 match between the United States and Belgium, but FIFA surprisingly lifted his suspension, allowing him to play.
Published July 5, 2026
In a surprising development, FIFA has suspended the one-match suspension of US international striker Folarin Balogun, ensuring his participation in the co-hosting World Cup last-16 match against Belgium.
Balogun stepped on the right ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic during the Round of 32 match, which the United States won 2-0. He received a red card, which ruled him out of the U.S. team’s next game against Belgium, but FIFA announced the in-form forward’s suspension on Sunday.
FIFA said in a statement: “In accordance with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the enforcement of match suspensions will be suspended for a one-year trial period.”
“If Folarin Balogun commits another violation of a similar nature and severity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction shall be enforced without prejudice to any additional sanctions imposed for the new violation.”
The judicial body has the discretion to completely or partially suspend the implementation of disciplinary measures.
Immediately after FIFA’s announcement, US President Donald Trump thanked soccer’s world governing body in a social media post.
“Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Unsurprisingly, the U.S. soccer body welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow the World Cup’s top scorer to compete in the crucial final.
“We accept the disciplinary committee’s decision and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to play tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement.
The 25-year-old, who has scored three goals in four games in the competition, said on Friday that a yellow card instead of a red card would have been a fairer penalty for his actions.
“There’s nowhere else to put your feet. This is inevitable,” Balogun told reporters at a practice session in the United States.
“So, I’ve seen different opinions and views. But for me personally, I think the yellow card was fair. This is what happened, so we need to move on and I have to accept it.”
The Belgian team did not immediately comment on whether Balogun would be available for Monday’s game in Seattle.
Balogun was instrumental in America’s rise in the tournament, winning the Player of the Match award twice.
He needs one more goal to tie Bart Patenaud as the most goals scored by a U.S. man in a single World Cup. Patenaud achieved the feat at the first World Cup in 1930.
Michelle Akers holds the record for most goals scored by a U.S. player at the World Cup. She scored a whopping 10 goals in the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991.
