Balogun Reinstated After White House Pressure on FIFA; Belgium Stunned

FIFA has lifted the automatic match suspension of Folarin Balogun, striker for AS Monaco and the United States, allowing him to play in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Belgium in the night of Monday to Tuesday. The player had been sent off during the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which should have ruled him out of the next fixture.

FIFA’s disciplinary commission justified its decision by invoking Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code, which provides for the possibility of a suspended sentence: “The automatic match suspension of American player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” states a statement published Sunday by the international body.

This reversal comes in a heavy political context. After the United States qualified for the Round of 16, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had publicly stated that the United States had been “robbed” and demanded “an appeal procedure.” According to talkSport journalist Ben Jacobs, the White House went further: it allegedly directly contacted FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to reconsider the red card. When questioned on this point, FIFA referred to the conclusions of its commission, which it describes as independent.

Donald Trump reacted immediately upon announcement of the decision on his social network: “Thank you FIFA for doing what was right and fixing a great injustice!” A reaction that fueled controversy in Belgium.

The Royal Belgian Football Union (RBFA) said it was “stunned” and announced it would examine all available legal options: “In order to preserve the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play, the RBFA is examining all possible options.” The Belgian Socialist Party was more direct, denouncing a FIFA that “adapts the rules to please Trump” and arguing that “the World Cup loses all credibility.”