The U.S. males’s nationwide crew is about to face Belgium on Monday night time within the World Cup spherical of 16 with star striker Folarin Balogun within the beginning lineup after his one-game suspension was put on hold by FIFA.
Balogun was given a pink card in the course of the July 1 recreation in opposition to Bosnia-Herzegovina after the U.S. participant clashed with an opposing participant’s foot within the second half. The penalty robotically landed Balogun a one-game suspension. FIFA told ABC News on the time that the decision was last and never in a position to be overturned or appealed.
FIFA mentioned on Sunday that “the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary interval of 1 yr.”
United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) kicks in the course of the World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between the US and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., close to San Francisco, on July 1, 2026.
Martin Meissner/AP Photograph
The soccer governing physique added that if Balogun “commits one other infringement of an analogous nature and gravity in the course of the probationary interval, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced with out prejudice to any further sanction imposed for the brand new infringement.”
Forward of Monday night time’s recreation, the U.S. males’s nationwide crew confirmed that Balogun shall be within the beginning lineup.
The Royal Belgium Soccer Affiliation (RBFA) launched a statement Sunday that mentioned partly that it was “astonished” by FIFA’s resolution to permit Balogun to play in Monday’s match in opposition to them.
“With the intention to safeguard the official rights of all taking part groups and to guard the elemental ideas of honest play in our sport, each at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the event, the RBFA is investigating all potential choices,” the RBFA assertion additional mentioned.
European soccer’s governing physique, UEFA, mentioned in a statement on Monday {that a} pink card suspension is “a precept embedded in rules, which can’t be made topic to exceptions, not to mention in the course of a event the place a number of different gamers have been in the identical scenario and commonly served their suspension.”
“We categorical our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable resolution,” UEFA mentioned.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters after final week’s match, which the U.S. received 2-0, that Balogun was “unhappy” and “disenchanted” in regards to the name and that the conflict was not intentional, in response to ESPN.
The USMNT’s victory was their first within the World Cup spherical of 32 since 2002 and solely their second knockout spherical victory in program historical past.
The American males’s greatest consequence on the World Cup was a third-place end on the inaugural event all the best way in 1930.
United States’ Malik Tillman (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a free kick in the course of the World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between the US and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., close to San Francisco, on July 1, 2026.
Martin Meissner/AP Photograph
The U.S. crew has been spectacular within the 2026 event up to now, ending the group stage with a 2-1 report, with wins over Paraguay and Australia earlier than a loss to Turkey, which occurred as soon as the crew had already secured a spot within the subsequent spherical.
Belgium, in the meantime, completed on the prime of their group with one win and two attracts and superior from the spherical of 32 with a 3-2 win over Senegal.
The U.S. and Belgium are set to face off Monday at 8 p.m. ET from Seattle Stadium.
The winner will go on to face Spain within the quarterfinals in Los Angeles on Friday.
ABC Information’ Kelly McCarthy and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
