American midfielder Christian Pulisic, 10, celebrates with teammate Folarin Balogun, 20, after scoring a goal against Paraguay during the first half of the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California on June 12, 2026.
Medianews Group/Pasadena Star News Via Getty Images | Medianews Group | Getty Images
FIFA has rejected a challenge by Belgian soccer authorities to the eligibility of U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in the first round of the World Cup finals in Seattle on Monday night.
The denial came hours after President Donald Trump defended his call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino last week to request a review of the red card issued to Balogun in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which resulted in Balogun’s one-match suspension.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee revoked Balogun’s suspension on Sunday, clearing the way for the game against Belgium.
FIFA announced on Monday afternoon that the Royal Belgian Football Association’s challenge to the cancellation was “determined to be inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and is therefore not entitled to appeal the decision” and handed Balogun a one-match suspension.
FIFA said in a statement: “FIFA Appeals Committee Chairman Neil Eggleston, from the United States, was not involved in the decision to reject the Royal Belgian Football Association’s appeal against the reversal of the suspension.”
RBFA said it was “surprised by FIFA’s decision.”
“To date, the RBFA has not yet received the basis for this decision, nor has it received the information it has requested since the beginning of this procedure (i.e. a copy of the decision, the motive for declaring the player eligible, the referee’s report). This is in violation of FIFA regulations,” the association said in a statement.
The RBFA announced that it has notified the U.S. Soccer Federation that it will “challenge the player’s eligibility if he is listed on a referee’s team sheet.”
“This allows us to take any further action,” the association said.
Earlier on Monday, the RBFA accused FIFA of refusing to “accommodate the RBFA’s legitimate requests” regarding how Balogun was allowed to play despite serving a one-match suspension.
RBFA criticized FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to participate, saying it was in “direct contradiction” to the competition regulations for the 2026 World Cup. “If a player or team official is sent off due to a direct or indirect red card (second warning), he or she will be automatically suspended from the team’s subsequent matches,” the regulation states.
President Trump confirmed to reporters on Monday that he called FIFA President Infantino and asked him to review the card issuance and Balogun’s automatic suspension for the game against Belgium.
President Trump said, “I didn’t think it was a foul, so I asked for a reconsideration.” “I had no idea what a red card was.”
President Trump thanked FIFA on Sunday at Truth Social for “doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice.”
The Athletic reported earlier on Monday that FIFA had granted the RBFA the right to formally appeal the decision.
RBFA later said it did not intend to appeal the decision but had requested information, which FIFA interpreted as an appeal.
However, FIFA “did not provide any information” in response to the appeal, RBFA said.
RBFA said: “While RBFA was only seeking a justifiable explanation, FIFA itself drafted the appeal and immediately ensured that the conduct was inadmissible.”
European soccer governing body UEFA said in a statement on Monday that FIFA had “crossed a red line” with the decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjust.”
UEFA said: “Like any sport, football relies on rules, which form the basis of fair, honest and transparent competition.”
UEFA said: “If the certainty of the rules is no longer guaranteed by parents, the integrity of the match is at risk and the credibility of the competition is undermined.” “Similarly, such a decision would set a precedent for ongoing tournaments, requiring a similar response should similar situations arise, to the detriment of the competition.”
“Football is a beautiful game, trusted because it is played under the same laws everywhere, and the most loved sport in the world. Tournaments are never purely independent and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, they have the power to influence the game as a whole, positively or negatively,” UEFA said.
“We accept the disciplinary committee’s decision and are pleased that Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement Sunday.
“We are fully focused on our Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle and look forward to the continued support of our incredible fans,” US Soccer said.
Why FIFA let Folarin Balogun play
Balogun was given a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina when a video review showed him landing on Tarik Mujaremović’s ankle when the two players made contact.
The red card resulted in an immediate one-match suspension without appeal, as usual.
However, for the first time in a World Cup match in more than 60 years, FIFA has announced that they will be allowed to play in the next match.
“The automatic match ban imposed on American player Folarin Balogun will be suspended for a one-year trial period,” FIFA said in a statement on Sunday.
FIFA cited Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code, which states that “the judicial body may decide to suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.”
Trump’s reportedly role in FIFA decision
The New York Times reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House called Infantino for that purpose.
MS NOW reported, citing US officials, that during the call, President Trump wanted to better understand why Balogun was given a red card and why it led to his suspension.
The official said the “U.S. government” provided “additional evidence” to FIFA, and the association’s disciplinary committee used that information in reaching the reversal of Balogun’s suspension.
The official said the government focused on having referees review slow-motion replays before red cards were issued.
“Ultimately the correct and appropriate result was achieved,” the official told MS NOW.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
President Trump is deeply involved in the event, which the United States co-hosts with Mexico and Canada.
He has developed a close relationship with FIFA president Infantino, who awarded Trump his first peace prize last year after Trump fiercely pursued but failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure, made public last week, revealed that Infantino gave him 10 tickets worth $15,000 to the FIFA Club World Cup finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last July.
President Trump attended Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain and presented the trophy with Infantino on the field.
When America plays Belgium
The U.S. team will play Belgium in Seattle in the Round of 16 on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The winner of this match will earn a ticket to face either Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
Balogun, who scored three goals in three games in this World Cup, is an American citizen by birth and grew up in England.
—CNBC’s Luke Fountain contributed to this article.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that Gianni Infantino is FIFA president. A previous version misspelled his name.
