The U.S. men's national team will have its forward Folarin Balogun available for the World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after FIFA announced that his red‑card ban has been suspended.
Balogun was shown a controversial red card during the round of 32 encounter with Bosnia and Herzegovina, a moment that set the stage for the subsequent review.
The Review Process
FIFA said the suspension was enacted under Article 27 of its disciplinary code, a move confirmed by the governing body's disciplinary panel.
Former President Donald Trump weighed in on the decision, posting on Truth Social that he was grateful to FIFA for reversing the red‑card call.
According to reports, the White House had reached out to FIFA to discuss the matter, underscoring the unusual political attention the case received.
Political Connections
Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino share a longstanding personal rapport, a connection that has been highlighted in previous diplomatic exchanges between the two.
FIFA sources maintain that the panel's decision was reached independently, emphasizing that external pressure did not sway the outcome.
Within the U.S. squad, teammates such as Christian Pulisic have expressed enthusiasm about having Balogun back in the lineup for the crucial knockout stage.