Trump thanks FIFA as it suspends Balogun’s ban for Belgium World Cup match

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificWorld CupMiddle EastExplainedOpinionVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomySportHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelSponsored Contentplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftWorld Cup 2026LIVE: Brazil vs NorwayWorld Cup Day 25Round of 16 match scheduleResults and FixturesGoals and reactioncaret-rightSport|World Cup 2026Trump thanks FIFA as it suspends Balogun’s ban for Belgium World Cup matchBalogun was set to miss USA vs Belgium last-16 tie but will now be available as FIFA surprisingly ends his suspension. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoFolarin Balogun will be available for USA's World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium [Jamie Squire/Getty Images via AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and The Associated PressPublished On 5 Jul 20265 Jul 2026In a surprising turnaround, FIFA has suspended the one-match ban on United States’ striker Folarin Balogun, ensuring his availability for the cohost’s World Cup last 16 match against Belgium. Balogun stepped on the right ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic during the Round of 32 match that USA won 2-0. He received a red card, which also ruled the in-form forward out of USA’s next fixture against Belgium – until FIFA announced its U-turn on Sunday. “In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” said a FIFA  statement. “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.” The judicial body has the discretion to ⁠⁠fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary sanction. Shortly after FIFA’s announcement, US President Donald Trump thanked football’s world governing body. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Unsurprisingly, the US football body welcomed FIFA’s decision to allow their leading World Cup goal scorer to play in the crucial knockout match. “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary ⁠⁠Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun ⁠⁠is eligible to compete tomorrow,” US Soccer said in a statement. The 25-year-old, who has scored three goals in his four matches during the tournament, said on Friday that a yellow card instead of red would have been a fairer penalisation for his action. “There’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable,” Balogun told reporters at a USA training session. “So, I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. But, for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and I have to accept it.” The Belgium team did not immediately comment on Balogun being available for the game in Seattle on ‌‌Monday. Balogun has been instrumental in USA’s progression through the tournament and has received the Player of the Match award twice. He needs one more goal to match Bert Patenaude as the USA men’s player with most goals at a single World Cup. Patenaude achieved the feat in the inaugural World Cup in 1930. Michelle Akers holds the record for the most goals scored by any USA player at a World Cup. She scored a whopping 10 goals during the inaugural version of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: