U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates with teammate Folarin Balogun (20) after a goal against Paraguay in the first half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, June 12, 2026.
Medianews Group/pasadena Star-news Via Getty Images | Medianews Group | Getty Images
Belgian soccer authorities challenged the eligibility of U.S. Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in a World Cup knockout game on Monday night.
The Royal Belgian Football Association, in a statement, blasted FIFA for refusing to “respond to the RBFA’s legitimate requests” about the process that led to Balogun being allowed to play in the match despite having previously been issued a one-game suspension.
“To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter,” the association said in a statement. “It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.
President Donald Trump last week asked FIFA to review Balogun‘s suspension before the international soccer regulatory body surprisingly reversed the ban on Sunday, Trump confirmed on Monday.
Trump cheered FIFA’s decision, which allows the 25-year-old Balogun to play against Belgium in Monday’s match in Seattle despite receiving a red card in a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
Earlier, a report in The Athletic said the RBFA was granted the right to formally appeal the decision.
The RBFA later said it had not intended to appeal the decision, but asked for information, which FIFA interpreted as an appeal.
But FIFA provided “no information whatsoever” for the appeal, the RBFA said.
European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, said in a statement Monday that FIFA had “crossed a red line” with the decision, which it said was “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition,” UEFA said.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” UEFA said. “Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”
“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole,” UEFA said.
U.S. Soccer, in a statement on Sunday said, “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow.”
“Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans,” U.S. Soccer said.
Why FIFA let Folarin Balogun play
On Wednesday, Balogun received a controversial red card for a foul, causing the top American goal scorer to be sent off the field during his squad’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
That red card resulted in an immediate one-game suspension without appeal, as is normal.
But FIFA, for the first time in more than 60 years of World Cup matches, said it would allow him to play in the next game.
FIFA, in a statement on Sunday, said that “the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”
FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says, “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Trump’s reported role in the FIFA decision
The New York Times reported that Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun’s suspension, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House called Infantino for that purpose.
MS NOW has confirmed that Trump called the FIFA boss.
Citing a U.S. official, MS NOW reported that during the call, Trump wanted to better understand why Balogun was hit with a red card and why that led to his suspension.
The official said that the “U.S. government” provided “additional evidence” directed to FIFA and that the association’s Disciplinary Committee used that information in the process that led to the reversal of Balogun’s suspension.
The government focused on referees reviewing a slow-motion replay before the red card was issued, according to the officials.
“Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved,” the official told MS NOW.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
The Belgian Royal Football Association, in a statement, said that it was “astonished” by FIFA’s about-face on Balogun’s suspension and argued it flouts FIFA’s written rules.
“The RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the association said.
Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.
He has enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino, the president of FIFA, which awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize last year, after the president ferociously pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and did not win it.
Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure, which became public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.
When the U.S. plays Belgium
The U.S. team will face Belgium in Seattle on Monday in a Round of 16 match at 8 p.m. ET. The match’s winner will punch their ticket to play either Portugal or Spain in the quarterfinal.
Balogun, who has scored three goals over the three games he has appeared in at this World Cup, is a U.S. citizen by birth who grew up in the United Kingdom.
— CNBC’s Luke Fountain contributed to this article.
