FIFA suspends U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's red card ban after Trump calls FIFA president ahead of World Cup match

In an unprecedented move, FIFA suspended U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match red card ban for a one-year probationary period, clearing him to face Belgium on July 6, 2026. The decision followed personal phone calls from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. While U.S. Soccer and coach Mauricio Pochettino welcomed the ruling, the Royal Belgian Football Association and coach Rudi Garcia expressed outrage, arguing the intervention violates FIFA's own rules on automatic suspensions.

FIFA suspension reversal for Balogun

• ▪FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's automatic one-match red card ban for a probationary period of one year, making the United States striker eligible to play against Belgium on July 6, 2026
• ▪The decision to lift Folarin Balogun's red card suspension marks the first time since 1962 that a player was allowed to play in a World Cup match despite receiving a red card in the previous game

Trump call to Infantino

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Folarin Balogun's red card suspension
• ▪Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick also communicated with FIFA regarding Folarin Balogun's suspension

Article 27 disciplinary code

• ▪FIFA based its decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's ban on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows its judicial body to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure
• ▪FIFA previously used Article 27 to defer the final two games of a three-match ban for Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, allowing him to play in Portugal's opening matches of the World Cup

U.S. Soccer reaction

• ▪U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the decision, stating that Folarin Balogun's red card was an unfair punishment for an accidental, normal action in football
• ▪U.S. Soccer accepted the decision and expressed pleasure that Folarin Balogun would be eligible to compete in the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle

Belgium federation protest

• ▪The Royal Belgian Football Association expressed astonishment at the ruling, arguing it directly contradicts Article 66.4 and Article 10.5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which mandate automatic suspensions for red cards
• ▪Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia criticized FIFA's decision, comparing the July 5 announcement to an April Fools' Day joke and stating it compromises the integrity and ethics of football

Balogun red card incident

• ▪Referee Raphael Claus did not initially call a foul on the play but issued the red card to Folarin Balogun after being instructed by the video assistant referee to review the incident on the pitchside monitor
• ▪Folarin Balogun received a straight red card on July 1, 2026, during the United States' 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a VAR review showed him stepping on the ankle of defender Tarik Muharemovic

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