USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun available to play vs Belgium in stunning twist

USA World Cup prima Folarin Balogun volition beryllium capable to play successful Monday’s crippled against Belgium successful the Round of 16 lucifer aft each pursuing an uproar implicit a reddish paper helium received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Balogun received the reddish paper aft helium stepped connected the ft of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic. The reddish paper was fixed aft Brazilian referee Raphael Claus stopped the lucifer for a VAR reappraisal to find whether Balogun had committed a terrible foul.

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Folarin Balogun of United States of America walks disconnected the tract aft receiving a reddish paper during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 lucifer betwixt United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina connected July 1, 2026 astatine San Francisco Bay Area Stadium successful Santa Clara, California (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It was ruled that Balogun did and helium was sent off.

The Athletic, which archetypal reported Balogun’s playing presumption connected Sunday, noted that portion of FIFA’s disciplinary codification stated, "the judicial assemblage whitethorn determine to afloat oregon partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."

"If the idiosyncratic benefiting from a suspended authorisation commits different infringement of a akin quality and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall beryllium revoked by the judicial assemblage and the authorisation enforced without prejudice to immoderate further authorisation imposed for the caller infringement," the regularisation added.

FOX Sports confirmed that Balogun would beryllium capable to play. The study noted that the play should not person been flagged to Claus.

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United States' Folarin Balogun (20) and United States' Christian Pulisic (10) basal by aft Balogun received a reddish paper during the World Cup circular of 32 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Bosnia successful Santa Clara, Calif., adjacent San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FIFA confirmed that the suspension was suspended for a probationary play of 1 year.

"We judge the determination of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to vie tomorrow," U.S. Soccer said. "Our afloat attraction is focused connected the Round of 16 lucifer against Belgium successful Seattle, and we look guardant to the continued enactment of our astonishing fans."

Balogun scored against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spoke to reporters Friday astir the reddish card.

"First and foremost, it was wholly unintentional, which I'm definite a batch of radical know. But, you know, I deliberation the prime of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don't deliberation it was the close call," helium said. "I deliberation a yellowish paper would person been just owed to it not being intentional. There's not galore places I tin spot my ft successful specified a scenario. But it's happened, and it's thing that I person to judge and determination guardant from.

"There’s been tons of antithetic emotions. I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy, it’s been surreal to beryllium honest," helium added. "But for maine it was conscionable important to enactment calm. I ne'er privation to respond retired of choler and emotion. There’s inactive tons of radical we’re inspiring. Little kids, boys and girls are watching. We person to amusement them the close mode to grip things adjacent erstwhile you deliberation it’s unjust, truthful I felt I did that. I’m blessed with the support, not conscionable I’m receiving but the team. I deliberation we’re each looking guardant to seeing what we tin bash against Belgium."

U.S. Soccer had nary mode to entreaty the ruing. Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations reads, "No protests whitethorn beryllium made astir the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are last and not taxable to appeal, unless different stipulated successful the FIFA Disciplinary Code."

United States' Folarin Balogun celebrates aft scoring the opening extremity during the World Cup circular of 32 shot lucifer betwixt the United States and Bosnia successful Santa Clara, Calif., adjacent San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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"If a subordinate oregon squad authoritative is sent disconnected arsenic a effect of a nonstop oregon indirect reddish paper (second caution), they volition automatically beryllium suspended from their team’s consequent match," Article 10.5 adds.

Fox News' Jonathan Hunt contributed to this report.