FIFA's disciplinary committee has overturned the suspension imposed on United States forward Folarin Balogun, reinstating his eligibility for the team's round‑of‑16 encounter with Belgium.
U.S. Soccer issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the ruling and confirming that the squad will shift its attention to the upcoming match, where Balogun is expected to feature.
Balogun's initial dismissal stemmed from a challenge that brought down Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, an incident that prompted a red card during the group stage.
A timely reprieve for the U.S. attack
The sanction had been placed on hold for a probationary year, a provision within FIFA's regulations that permits temporary halting of disciplinary measures under specific conditions.
In a recent interview, Balogun described the original decision as "unjust," arguing that a yellow card would have been a more appropriate punishment.
Coaches and analysts have underscored Balogun's importance to the U.S. side, noting his knack for scoring decisive goals in earlier fixtures that have kept the team competitive in the tournament.
The reversal not only restores a key attacking option but also signals a willingness by the governing body to revisit certain sanctions when context warrants.
With the match against Belgium looming, the United States aims to capitalize on the renewed momentum, hoping to advance deeper into the competition.