Rudi Garcia sarcastically reacts to FIFA approval for Balogun to play in World Cup round of 16

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia didn’t hide his sarcasm when asked about FIFA’s decision to allow USMNT striker Folarin Balogun to feature in the World Cup round of 16. 'I didn’t know that for FIFA, July 5 is basically April Fools’ Day,' Garcia said. The ruling came just a day before the crucial knockout fixture, catching many by surprise. Balogun, a key attacking threat for the United States, was given the green light despite earlier uncertainty. Garcia made it clear that while the timing felt like a joke, his side remains fully focused on the task at hand.