Belgium accuses FIFA of procedural failures as Balogun suspension lifted for USA clash

Belgium has formally challenged the eligibility of USA striker Folarin Balogun for their 2026 World Cup round-of-16 meeting, accusing FIFA of procedural failures after the governing body lifted Balogun’s one-game suspension without explanation.

Balogun had been handed a red card in the 64th minute of the United States’ round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina — a match in which he also scored in the 45th minute — and was subsequently issued an automatic one-game ban. FIFA cleared him to play on Sunday, but the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) says it has still received no reasoned decision to justify the reversal.

“No information whatsoever was provided by FIFA,” the RBFA said in a statement on Monday. The association added that when it sought clarification, FIFA reframed its correspondence as a formal appeal, appointed a judge, and gave Belgium only a few hours to complete that appeal — a process the RBFA argues was designed to fail. “While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible,” the statement read.

Belgium also alleged that FIFA removed the section on automatic player suspensions from its pre-match coordination meeting presentation — a section that had featured in all four previous such meetings during the tournament. The RBFA said it questioned FIFA both orally and in writing about the change and again received no response.

The association said it is “deeply concerned” about FIFA’s process and that it had “no alternative but to challenge the player’s eligibility for the upcoming match.”

Belgium manager Rudi Garcia was more pointed in his assessment, saying he “didn’t know the fifth of July corresponded to the first of April” in the “FIFA office” — a sardonic reference to April Fools’ Day.

Balogun, who has scored a team-high three goals at the 2026 World Cup, is set to feature for the United States in the round-of-16 tie unless Belgium’s eligibility challenge produces a late ruling.