Folarin Balogun is not suspended for the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium. FIFA made that official Monday, citing a disciplinary code loophole that effectively places the striker on probation for a year rather than forcing him to sit out the biggest game of the tournament.
Balogun was sent off in the 62nd minute of the U.S.’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco. The Monaco forward stepped on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle after scoring the opener just before halftime. Referees judged it serious enough for a straight red card, a call that infuriated USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“For me? Never a red card,” Pochettino said after the match. “Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.”
How FIFA Applied Article 27
FIFA’s disciplinary committee used Article 27 of its code to suspend the one-match ban for a probationary period of one year. That means Balogun will play against Belgium on Saturday but has to stay out of trouble for the next 12 months. If he commits a similar offense during that window, the suspension kicks in and any new punishment gets added on top.
The same article was used earlier this summer to let Cristiano Ronaldo play in Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo after he got sent off against the Republic of Ireland in a pre-tournament friendly. So there’s precedent, and FIFA clearly sees it as a tool for borderline calls where intent is questionable.
President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, calling the original red card “a great injustice” and thanking FIFA for reversing it. That kind of political involvement in a World Cup disciplinary decision is unusual, but Trump has made a habit of inserting himself into sports controversies during his presidency.
What This Means for the USMNT
Getting Balogun back is a real lift for Pochettino’s squad. He’s the team’s most natural finisher and scored the opener that settled nerves against Bosnia. Without him, the U.S. would have been relying on Ricardo Pepi or Josh Sargent against a Belgium team that rolled through Group G with three wins. Balogun gives the attack a different dimension, someone who can hold up play and finish off crosses in tight spaces.
The U.S. defense has been solid so far, only giving up one goal in three matches. But Belgium has Kevin De Bruyne pulling strings and Romelu Lukaku finding form at the right time. Having Balogun available to keep their back line honest matters.
One thing to watch: Balogun’s disciplinary probation technically applies to all FIFA-sanctioned matches, not just World Cup games. That includes friendlies and qualifying matches for the next year. If he gets another red card for a similar type of foul, he’ll serve the original suspension plus whatever new ban comes with it. The margin for error just got smaller.
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