The United States' World Cup campaign faced a significant controversy when FIFA cleared striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium, despite him receiving a red card in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This unprecedented decision came after President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's suspension. FIFA's disciplinary body opted to suspend the one-match ban for a probationary period of one year, citing Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code. This means Balogun will serve the ban only if he commits a similar infraction within the probationary period.
The decision sparked outrage, particularly from the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), who criticized FIFA for undermining its own rules and the integrity of the competition. Belgian officials stated they were "astonished" and vowed to explore "all potential options," including formally challenging Balogun's eligibility. UEFA called the decision "indefensible and unjustifiable," saying it "crossed a red line" and questioned FIFA's credibility. Critics, including former World Cup players and coaches, highlighted that the move set a problematic precedent, allowing a player who should have been suspended to play.
Folarin Balogun, who had scored three goals in the tournament, was sent off after a VAR review for planting his boot into the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. US coach Mauricio Pochettino defended Balogun, calling the red card an "unfair punishment" and arguing that "99.9% of people in football saw it as unfair." President Trump publicly claimed credit for FIFA's decision, stating on Truth Social, "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice," and on X, the White House posted "USA-USA-USA."
This incident is not the first time FIFA has faced scrutiny regarding player suspensions; earlier in this World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo's three-game suspension from a qualifying match was also put on hold under the same FIFA regulation. The controversy surrounding Balogun's reinstatement became a major talking point of the tournament, overshadowing tactical discussions and raising questions about political influence in football's governing body, especially given FIFA's regulations requiring independence and avoidance of political interference.
