The United States men's national team received a timely boost ahead of its World Cup Round of 16 showdown with Belgium, as FIFA announced that striker Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play despite having been sent off earlier in the tournament.
FIFA clears Balogun for crucial clash
The governing body reversed a one‑game ban by invoking Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, a clause that has previously been applied to high‑profile cases such as Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension.
Balogun’s dismissal stemmed from a VAR‑reviewed foul on Bosnian defender Tarik Muhamerović, a moment he felt warranted only a caution; he had appealed for a yellow card instead.
Teammates reacted with visible relief, with forward Christian Pulisic and midfielder Alex Freeman publicly expressing confidence that Balogun’s presence could swing the match in the U.S. favour.
U.S. supporters hailed the decision as a restoration of fairness, while Belgium’s preparation now faces the prospect of confronting a player they had been planning to meet without.
The relief is tempered by a probationary condition: any further infraction during the probationary period could see the original sanction reinstated.
Analysts note that Balogun’s role as the team’s leading scorer during the group stage makes his availability a potentially decisive factor in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter.