Balogun is set to be available to face Belgium. Robin Alam / ISI Photos / ISI Photos via Getty Images
Folarin Balogun will be available to play the USMNT’s round of 16 match against Belgium with his one-game red-card ban suspended.
The 25-year-old received a straight red card on against Bosnia and Herzegovina for a foul on defender Tarik Muharemovic, a sanction which is automatically accompanied by a one-game suspension under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s rules for the tournament.
Multiple FIFA officials told The Athletic after the game that a team is not able to appeal against a red card or the subsequent suspension.
However, Balogun is set to be available to face Rudi Garcia’s side as his suspension has been suspended.
Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary code states that “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
It adds: “If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
Cristiano Ronaldo avoided a suspension for the start of the World Cup in similar circumstances after FIFA handed the Portugal captain a three-match ban, but with the final two games suspended for “a one-year probation period”.
FIFA and U.S. Soccer have been approached for comment.
Balogun has started in all but one game for the co-hosts, scoring twice in their opener against Paraguay. The forward was subsequently rested against Turkey in the final group-stage game before returning to score against Bosnia in the first-half.
He has registered at least one goal contribution in every World Cup game he has played in so far.
Balogun was not immediately sent off after the red-card incident. The forward had reached out to position himself as he pursued a ball up the left sideline after an hour of play, landing on the back of Muharemovic’s leg and raking down to his ankle.
The on-pitch referee Raphael Claus was instructed to go to the pitchside monitor to review the incident, before telling Levi’s Stadium Balogun had committed a “serious foul” and would be sent off.
Jul 5, 2026
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