Leading goalscorer Folarin Balogun is now available to play for the USA against Belgium in their massive last 16 game of the 2026 World Cup in Seattle on Monday, as his ban has been suspended by FIFA.
This decision has caused shockwaves around the globe, as rarely used Article 27 has been used by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee to make Balogun available. His red card wasn’t overturned, the one-game was just suspended.
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Via our partners at NBC News, U.S. Soccer said the following on Balogun being available:
“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.”
President Donald Trump has also commented on the situation involving Balogun, saying: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” It has been reported by several outlets, including the New York Times, that Trump made a call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino about Balogun’s suspension.
Belgium’s FA have released a strongly-worded statement on Balogun’s suspension saying they are “astonished by FIFA’s decision” and it’s safe to say their head coach Rudi Garcia isn’t delighted about it either.
“I didn’t know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA,” Garcia told reporters in Seattle. “The Belgian federation isn’t just defending itself, it’s defending football... its integrity.”
On Monday European soccer’s governing body UEFA released a scathing statement attacking the decision saying that “we express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.” UEFA added that FIFA had “crossed a red line” in terms of the governance of the game and that “when the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed” the “integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.”
How is Folarin Balogun able to play for the USA against Belgium?
Balogun was sent off in the second half of the USA’s 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The referee on the pitch didn’t give a red card but Balogun was sent off after a VAR review.
The red card drew huge criticism from pretty much everyone and was deemed to be extremely harsh as the challenge was accidental.
A statement from FIFA has said that Balogun’s one-game ban will now be suspended, due to a ruling they can make per Article 27, and he will be able to start up top for the USA against Belgium.
Another recent time that Article 27 has been used is when Cristiano Ronaldo’s ban for a red card for Portugal against the Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying in November was suspended, meaning he wasn’t banned for the opening group games of the 2026 World Cup.
This news is massive for the U.S chances of advancing at the World Cup, as Balogun has scored three goals so far at this World Cup and has been key up top in their great run to the last 16.
Belgium, and the wider soccer community, aren’t as pleased as U.S. fans.
