Folarin Balogun was sent off in the final World Cup group stage game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving the United States devastated.
Folarin Balogun will be available for USA’s next match (Image: Getty Images)
Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play for the U.S. team against Belgium after his red card suspension was suspended for one year. The striker was one of America’s most important players during the World Cup.
Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he caught Tarik Muharemovic in a stud-up tackle on the calf and ankle, earning him a straight red card. Under FIFA’s Article 10.5 of the Competition Regulations, the sanction for his violation is a one-match suspension, which would result in him being excluded from the last-16 competition.
FIFA previously said teams could not appeal red cards or suspensions. However, Athletic insist his suspension has been lifted, allowing him to play against Rudi Garcia’s side, who beat Senegal 3-2 in the round of 16.
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US President Donald Trump also thanked FIFA for “reversing” a “grave injustice.” “Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice! President Donald J. Trump,” he wrote on Truth Social.
There is some wiggle room in FIFA’s disciplinary rules when it comes to suspending players. It states: “The judicial body may decide to suspend, in whole or in part, the implementation of disciplinary measures.
“If a person benefiting from a suspension commits a violation of a similar nature and severity again during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial authority and the sanction shall be enforced without prejudice to any additional sanctions imposed for new violations.”
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In a statement, FIFA explained why it chose to lift the suspension. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed the following sanctions on United States player Folarin Balogun, who was sent off after receiving a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026.”
“One match suspension for violation of Articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC). Pursuant to Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the enforcement of the match suspension is suspended for a one-year trial period.”
Balogun was sent off for this tackle (Image: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
“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.”
This will be a big boost for the Americans, as Balogun has contributed three goals and one assist in three games for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. After the Monaco ace made the tackle, then-referee Rafael Klaus did not show a red card until VAR prompted him to view the incident on a pitchside monitor.
Balogun scored three goals for the USA during the tournament (Image: AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
Balogun was then sent off after being deemed to have committed a “serious foul”. Speaking to the media about the incident, manager Pochettino said: “For me? It was never a red card. There was no intention to step on a player. It was a normal, accidental act in football.”
The USA will play Belgium at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday, July 1st at approximately 1am BST. The winner of this contest will face either Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
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