Belgium Appeals FIFA World Cup Clearance of US Soccer Star

Folarin Balogun of the United States trains at the University of Washington in Seattle on July 5, 2026. Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesThe Belgian soccer federation said July 6 it is appealing FIFA’s decision to suspend a red card ban for Folarin Balogun, a star striker for the U.S. Men’s National Team.The Royal Belgian Football Association said it sent a letter to FIFA requesting a copy of its decision, an explanation of how it was made, and an explanation of how it corresponded with applicable regulations.In response, FIFA sent a letter stating that it was treating the association’s inquiry as an appeal and had appointed a judge to consider it, according to the association.Because it has not received any explanation from FIFA, the association said, it “has no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Balogun, 25, was handed a red card during the United States’ game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, not long after he scored a goal. The U.S. team won 2–0 to advance to the Round of 16.FIFA rules state that a player who receives a red card is automatically banned from the next match, but also allow a FIFA judicial body to suspend the disciplinary measures, in whole or in part.Teammates and others questioned the red card, issued after Balogun stepped on an opponent’s ankle.FIFA said in a statement over the weekend that it was suspending the ban for one year.“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement,” FIFA said.U.S. President Donald Trump was among the U.S. officials to thank FIFA, calling the move warranted for Balogun, America’s leading scorer in this World Cup.“We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow,” U.S. Soccer said in a statement on Sunday.“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.”The Union of European Football Associations said Monday that some rules can be open to interpretation, but the red card penalty is not.“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension,” the union 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. Equally, such [a] decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decision.”