![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/us-president-donald-trump-speaks-at-salute-to-america-an-ind-PAVQTCVNPNCLZOCTAVKB457XYE.jpg\")
<\/p>\nFolarin Balogun\u2019s one-game ban was surprisingly suspended by FIFA, clearing the US forward to play in the team\u2019s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, a decision that was praised by Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
The US President had made a call to FIFA to ask its president Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun\u2019s red card, according to a person familiar with the call, AP reported.<\/p>\n
Balogun, who leads the Americans with three goals, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on a foot of Tarik Muharemovi\u0107 of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A red card leads to an automatic one-game suspension but players learned of Balogun’s availability when social media posts started popping up during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from their hotel to training at the University of Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of us thought it was AI at first,” defender Chris Richards said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t sure if it was true or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
‘Reversing a great injustice’<\/p>\n
Trump praised FIFA\u2019s decision. FIFA’s Infantino has repeatedly made efforts to grow close to Trump, even awarding him a FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!\u201d Trump said in a social media post.<\/p>\n
Balogun\u2019s red card and suspension for the round of 16 match had been one of the most controversial and consequential decisions of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump speaks at Salute to America, an Independence Day event honouring the nation’s 250th anniversary. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,\u201d US star Christian Pulisic said. \u201cI felt like there was much worse ones that went on this tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US Soccer Federation learned of the decision in a message sent by FIFA in its portal at 10:31 am Eastern TIme.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,\u201d FIFA announced. \u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Balogun’s three goals included one to give the US the lead against Bosnia. He has matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude\u2019s four in the initial tournament in 1930.<\/p>\n
A 25-year-old who plays for Monaco, Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season. He has 12 goals in 30 international appearances. He was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents who were living in London and in 2023 opted to change his national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe strikes fear into a lot of defenders,\u201d Richards said.<\/p>\n
Round of 16 clash<\/p>\n
The host US is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. The Americans lost in the round of 16 to Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022. They failed to advance from the group stage in 2006 and didn\u2019t qualify for the 2018 tournament.<\/p>\n
The USSF said it will not make Balogun available for comment Sunday, but Balogun posted on social media a picture of himself in front of US fans and overlaid with music of Michael Jackson’s pop single \u201cBad.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday, Balogun said he thought a yellow card instead of red \u201cwould have been fair.”<\/p>\n
FIFA said its decision relied on Article 27 of disciplinary committee rules.<\/p>\n
“The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years,” the rule states.<\/p>\n
FIFA in November deferred the final two games of a three-match ban for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play at the start of the World Cup.<\/p>\n
Argentine defender Nicol\u00e1s Otamendi and Ecuadoran midfielder Mois\u00e9s Caicedo in April had one-game bans deferred for red cards in qualifiers, also allowing them to be available for World Cup openers.<\/p>\n
Brazil\u2019s Garrincha was ejected from a 1962 semifinal but allowed to play in the final against Chile after political pressure.<\/p>\n