Balogun Red Card Saga Continues: USMNT Star Might Still Miss Belgium Clash Despite FIFA U-Turn

The Folarin Balogun red card controversy refuses to die down. The United States men's national team striker had his one-match suspension remarkably overturned by FIFA on Saturday, clearing him to face Belgium in the World Cup quarterfinal. But the Royal Belgian Football Association has launched an appeal, and the final decision may not come before kickoff in Seattle. Balogun was sent off during the Round of 32 against Bosnia & Herzegovina after his studs caught Tarik Muharemović on the leg. VAR confirmed the straight red, and automatic suspension rules under the World Cup regulations would have kept him out of the Belgium match. That changed when FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code, a rare move the governing body said allowed it to “fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.” No further explanation was given. Multiple sources confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for Balogun’s eligibility to be restored. The Belgian FA responded with a strongly worded statement, pointing out that Article 66.4 of the same disciplinary code clearly states a red card triggers an automatic one-match ban, and that the World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations (Article 10.5) reinforce that automatic nature. The federation also noted that Circular No. 16, distributed to all member associations on May 12, 2026, reiterated the rule. Belgium boss Rudi Garcia did not hide his disbelief. “I didn’t know the game was being played on April Fool’s Day rather than July 6,” he said. The Belgian federation has been granted the right to appeal, but the timeline is extremely tight. They must submit their case by 5 a.m. PT (1 p.m. BST) on Monday, just hours before the 5 p.m. PT kickoff at Seattle’s stadium. insider sources reported that the RBFA is baffled by the short window and is also considering a complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. FIFA has not guaranteed a ruling before the match, leaving the door open for Balogun to start or for the suspension to be reinstated at the last moment. The situation has set a dangerous precedent, according to many observers. After England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off in a dramatic 3-2 win over Mexico, England boss Thomas Tuchel joked that captain Harry Kane could ask Trump to intervene. “I think first of all, to be very clear, that it was not a red card. But VAR got involved and obviously three people from VAR and the referee checked it,” Tuchel said. With every team now aware that FIFA can overturn automatic suspensions, the Balogun case has turned into one of the most talked-about stories of the 2026 World Cup.