Folarin Balogun has become available to participate with the United States national team against Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, after the Disciplinary Committee of the International Football Association "FIFA" decided to suspend the execution of his one-match suspension.
Folarin Balogun
Club: Monaco
The US national team is preparing to face Belgium in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Balogun had been sent off directly during the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to a challenge on Tarek Muharemović, a punishment that automatically requires a one-match suspension according to the tournament regulations.
However, FIFA announced the suspension of the penalty for one year on a probationary basis, which means the striker will be eligible to participate against Belgium.
FIFA explained in its statement that Balogun was punished with a one-match suspension for violating Articles 14 and 66 of the Disciplinary Regulations, but the execution of the penalty was suspended for one year.
The statement added that if the player commits another similar offense in terms of nature and severity during the probationary period, the suspension will be activated, in addition to any new penalty that may be imposed on him.
FIFA relied on Article 27 of the Disciplinary Regulations, which stipulates that the judicial body has the authority to suspend the execution of the penalty in whole or in part, with the possibility of reactivating it in the event of a similar violation during the probationary period.
Cristiano Ronaldo had previously benefited from the same procedure, after FIFA suspended the last two matches of his three-match suspension for one year.
The decision to send off Balogun had sparked widespread controversy, as the US coach Mauricio Pochettino believed that the challenge did not warrant a red card, while Christian Pulisic described the decision as "very harsh".
Balogun scored two goals in the opening match against Paraguay, and also found the net against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and succeeded in contributing at least one goal in every match he played in the World Cup so far.
