The USA were left devastated when Folarin Balogun was sent off against against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their last World Cup group match
Folarin Balogun will be able to feature in the USA’s next match(Image: Getty Images)
Folarin Balogun will be available for the USA’s clash against Belgium after his red card ban was suspended for a probationary period of one year. The striker has been one of the USA’s most important players over the course of the World Cup.
He received a straight red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina after he caught Tarik Muharemovic with a studs up tackle on the calf and ankle. Under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s rules for the tournament, the sanction for his offence is a one-game suspension, which would have ruled him out of their round of 16 clash.
FIFA had previously said a team cannot appeal against a red card or a suspension. However, the Athletic claims his suspension has been cancelled, making him available to face Rudi Garcia’s side, who overcame Senegal 3-2 in their round of 16 clash.
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United States President, Donald Trump, also thanked FIFA for ‘reversing’ a ‘great injustice.’ He wrote on Truth Social: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
FIFA’s disciplinary code does have some wriggle room when it comes to player’s suspensions. It states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
“If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
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In a statement, FIFA have clarified why they have chose to cancel the suspension. They wrote: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed the following sanction on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun, who was sent off as a result of a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
“One-match suspension for breaches of articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC). 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.”
This will be a huge boost for the USA as Balogun has contributed three goals and an assist in three appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. After the Monaco ace made the tackle, referee at the time Raphael Claus did not show the red card until VAR urged him to look at the incident on the pitch-side monitor.
It was then Balogun was dismissed after he was deemed to have committed a “serious foul”. When Pochettino spoke to the media about the incident, he said: “For me? Never a red card. Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.”
The USA face Belgium at the Seattle Stadium on Tuesday July 1 at around 1am BST. The winner of that contest will face either Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
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