Folarin Balogun available for USMNT vs Belgium as red card ban suspended

🚨🇺🇸 Folarin Balogun will be eligible to face Belgium, after FIFA opted to hand him a suspended one-game ban under Article 27.

The red card stands, but he’s free to play — as @MelissaMOrtiz reported. pic.twitter.com/jErdVC8OCC

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 5, 2026

VIA THE ATHLETIC ON X:

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 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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.

A statement from the governing body and World Cup organizer read: “The FIFA disciplinary committee has imposed the following sanction on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun, who was sent off as a result of a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium: One-match suspension for breaches of articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA disciplinary code (FDC).

“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. 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.”