World Cup: Folarin Balogun to Play vs. Belgium?

2026 World Cup... Infantino claims independence of FIFA's judicial bodies, denying any pressure to suspend the ban against American player Folarin Balogun in order to allow him to play against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16.

Live: Refereeing chief issues public backing of official who sent off Folarin Balogun

USA striker Balogun, whose suspension has been suspended, is expected to start against Belgium in the second round of the World Cup knockout stage.

#BreakingNews | 2026 World Cup: Balogun starts for the United States against Belgium after FIFA suspends his ban #HereIsTheKingdom

Balogun named in US starting lineup against Belgium after FIFA reprieve amz/rcw

New: FIFA says Balogun has also been fined $40,000 in addition to the one-match ban, which has been suspended for a year. • • Comes in a statement from an unnamed disciplinary committee chairperson

MIAMI, July 6 (Reuters) - FIFA dismissed Belgium's challenge to United States striker Folarin Balogun's eligibility for Monday's World Cuplast-16 showdown as 'inadmissible', leaving the European side to approach the U.S. Soccer Federation to contest his inclusion.

FIFA rejects Belgium challenge over US striker Balogun's eligibility for World Cup clash -

BREAKING: FIFA has rejected Belgium's challenge over Folarin Balogun's eligibility for the U.S. tonight, clearing the USMNT striker to play in the World Cup Round of 16 clash. • • Balogun's controversial one-game suspension was lifted after intervention from President Donald Trump and U.S. Soccer. • • Belgium argued it had "no alternative" but to challenge the decision and says it could still challenge Balogun's eligibility if he's listed on the official team sheet, leaving the door open for another legal move before kickoff. • • For now, though, the U.S. gets a massive boost with one of its top attacking threats available for the Round of 16.

BREAKING: FIFA has rejected Belgium's challenge over Folarin Balogun's eligibility for the U.S. tonight, clearing the USMNT striker to play in the World Cup Round of 16 clash. • • Balogun's controversial one-game suspension was lifted after intervention from President Donald Trump and U.S. Soccer. • • Belgium argued it had "no alternative" but to challenge the decision, but FIFA ruled the federation had no standing to appeal.

Ben Goldfreund "Belgium is not a party to the decision and has no right to appeal": FIFA's appeals committee has rejected Belgium's appeal to overturn the suspension of United States striker Florian Balogun, and he can play against them in the round of 16.

Reuters: FIFA's appeals committee rejects Belgium's appeal against the decision to suspend the ban on American player Folarin Balogun.

#Breaking | Reuters: FIFA's appeals committee rejects Belgium's appeal against the decision to suspend the ban on American player Folarin Balogun

Based on Article 27, which grants the Disciplinary Committee discretionary power when reviewing certain sanctions to make his return possible, the return of US national team player Folarin Balogun by FIFA decision sparks a crisis before the match against Belgium, and controversy surrounding a request from Trump.

Belgian federation 'challenges eligibility' of Balogun before World Cup clash

"All I did was ask for a review": Donald Trump confirms he asked FIFA to review Folarin Balogun's red card #BFM2

UEFA cries foul on FIFA's Balogun ban reversal

FIFA DECISION SPARKS WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY • • Belgium's football federation is challenging FIFA's decision to let U.S. forward Folarin Balogun play despite a red-card suspension. • • UEFA said the move undermines the integrity of the World Cup, while former FIFA president Sepp Blatter argued suspensions should be overturned only through rules and independent review—not political pressure.

Beats collide: Before tonight's USA v Belgium World Cup game, Gianni Infantino - who has demanded renaming of stadia & DMCA takedowns of videos with FIFA games on even in the background, gives up and says Folarin Balogun can play. Belgium legal options? DDC? UN??

SEATTLE (AP) — Belgian federation says it is challenging FIFA's decision to let U.S. forward Folarin Balogun play in World Cup match

The suspension of US forward Balogun from the World Cup has shaken confidence in the independence of sports organizations.

The Belgian Football Federation has issued a statement protesting FIFA's decision to suspend the ban of US national team striker Fularin Balogun ahead of the two teams' match in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Iran International's Leili Nikfar reports

Live: Trump lobbied Fifa to lift Folarin Balogun suspension for World Cup game v Belgium

FIFA "crossed a red line" with the decision to suspend US star Folarin Balogun's one-match ban for a year, European football's governing body UEFA said on Monday, a ruling which permits Balogun to play in the co-hosts' World Cup last 16 match with Belgium

QUOTES-Soccer-Reaction to FIFA suspending Balogun red-card ban after Trump intervention

QUOTES-Soccer-Reaction to FIFA suspending Balogun red card after Trump intervention

UEFA: FIFA crossed a red line in its decision to overturn the red card of US player Balogun

The Belgian Football Association criticizes FIFA's decision to suspend the ban on US striker Folarin Balogun. The player is now eligible to participate in the USA vs. Belgium match in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, despite his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

USA face Belgium and World Cup date with destiny after Balogun reprieve

Ahead of the USA vs. Belgium World Cup match, the exemption of US player Folarin Balogun from suspension sparks widespread controversy.

FIFA has suspended US national team player Balogun's World Cup ban for one year, making him eligible to play in the match against Belgium on the 6th. President Trump may have requested a review of the ban.

FIFA overturns Folarin Balogun's red card, making the US forward eligible to face Belgium in the Round of 16 The Disciplinary Committee overturned the straight red card he received for stamping on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic in the Round of 32. Does this decision set a controversial precedent for the rest of the tournament?

Lead U.S. Men's National Team scorer Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play in the World Cup match against Belgium on Monday, after FIFA's disciplinary committee lifted a red card suspension he received on Wednesday.

The most stunning controversy of the 2026 World Cup erupted on Sunday after it emerged that President Trump personally intervened to have U.S. striker Folarin Balogun reinstated for the team’s round-of-16 game against Belgium following his red card in the previous round

Live: Belgians weigh Folarin Balogun as “darling of the match” in which he didn’t play

US forward Balogun is eligible to play in the next match; FIFA has suspended his suspension, and Trump says he "thanks for the right decision."

The World Cup was plunged into uproar after FIFA suspended a red card given to United States star Folarin Balogun ahead of the host nation's clash with Belgium, in a bombshell move welcomed by President Donald Trump but slammed as "astonishing" by Belgian officials.

FIFA has extended US national team player Balogun's suspension, allowing him to play against Belgium; Reuters reports "Trump requested a review."

FIFA has announced that Florin Balogun will be eligible to play in Monday's knockout match against Belgium, with his one-match ban lifted. Donald Trump also wrote on Twitter that the decision righted "a great injustice."

FIFA clears Balogun for US-Belgium World Cup clash following Trump call

FIFA suspends suspension of U.S. forward Balogun

#BreakingNews | Reuters: The US president contacted the FIFA president to request a review of the red card received by Balogun #HereIsTheKingdom

FIFA stunned the soccer world by allowing the USA’s Folarin Balogun to play on Monday. Trump’s role is under the microscope •

Trump called FIFA President Infantino on Wednesday to request a review of the red card suspension for U.S. top scorer Balogun. Balogun received a red card in the Bosnia-Herzegovina match and was suspended for the Belgium game. FIFA announced today that it has lifted the suspension — Balogun will be on the field for the Belgium game on Monday. This is the first time since 1962 that a player has been allowed to play in the World Cup while serving a red card suspension. - New York Times

OFFICIAL: Belgian Federation statement on Folarin Balogun red card case, saying they are “astonished”. • • “The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time). • FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. • • This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction. • However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card (sending-off) automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup. • Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5: • "If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.” • The automatic nature of such a suspension was also explicitly reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was distributed to all participating member associations on 12 May 2026. • The same rule is reiterated at every FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Coordination Meeting prior to each match and is included in all FIFA World Cup 2026 workshop presentations. • • In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options.”

Belgium football chiefs say 'astonished' at FIFA Balogun decision