Balogun reinstated despite red card: FIFA yields to Trump pressure

FIFA officially confirmed on Monday evening Folarin Balogun’s reinstatement for the Round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup between the United States and Belgium, after the AS Monaco striker had been sent off during the group stage against Bosnia and Herzegovina. His initial one-match suspension was made conditional by the federal disciplinary commission, allowing him to participate in the match.

The decision comes in a heavy political context. Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino have both acknowledged exchanging views on the Balogun case, fueling suspicions of direct White House intervention in world football’s governing body. To justify the reversal, the disciplinary commission invoked a rarely used article of its regulations, converting the firm sanction into a suspended sentence.

The Royal Belgian Football Federation (URBSFA) filed an appeal against this decision, which FIFA rejected on the grounds that the Belgian federation “has no standing to file an appeal against this decision, not being a party to the proceedings”. A formulation that amounts to excluding from the debate the team directly affected by the presence or absence of the opposing player.

This sequence highlights growing tensions between sporting interests and political pressures within a World Cup organized on American soil. By validating Balogun’s reinstatement while closing the door to any Belgian challenge, FIFA exposes itself to criticism over the independence of its disciplinary bodies and the consistency of its own procedures.