FIFA reject Belgium request; Balogun can play

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ESPN News Services

Jul 6, 2026, 02:25 PM ET

FIFA has ruled a request from the Belgium football federation for an explanation of Folarin Balogun's suspended red card as "inadmissible," meaning it has no grounds to appeal the decision and the United States forward remains cleared to play against Belgium in Monday's World Cup round-of-16 match.

"The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national team player Folarin Balogun following his dismissal for 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," FIFA said in a statement on Monday.

"The chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston (from the United States), was not involved in the decision. The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."

FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's one-match ban has been widely criticised and the governing body's rejection of Belgium's request for further information on the ruling has prompted the RBFA to say they will review their options, should Balogun be included on the USMNT's team sheet for Monday's game.

The RBFA said in response to FIFA's ruling that it "has received the decision of the FIFA Appeal Committee, signed by its member Mr Salman Al-Ansari, which declares the RBFA's case inadmissible and confirms the earlier decision allowing United States player Folarin Balogun to play.

"To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure id est a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee's report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations.

"The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee's team sheet.

"This leaves all further actions open."

The RBFA put in a request to FIFA on Monday, saying at the time that it had still not received "FIFA's decision or any explanation regarding this matter" and adding that "In these circumstances, it has no choice but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match."

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Monday he discussed the red card suspension reversal of Balogun with U.S. President Donald Trump, and Infantino explained to him that a decision on the matter would be taken by FIFA's independent judicial bodies.

Trump on Monday took credit for getting FIFA to review the red card but said he did not demand an outcome.

"All I did was ask for a review," Trump said when asked about it during an unrelated Oval Office event. "I didn't say, 'You have to do this.'"

Information from The Associated Press, ABC News and ESPN's Rob Dawson contributed to this report.