FIFA Rescinds Balogun Red Card Before Belgium Match

FIFA lifted the ban on USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him for the Round of 16 match against Belgium.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Soccer

Expressive sports illustration of two players in red kits contesting a ball under stadium floodlights, brushwork and team colors dominant. — FIFA rescinded the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun, clearing him to face Belgium in the Round of 16, which the USA won 4-1. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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FIFA rescinded the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun for a foul on Tarik Muharemovic during the team's 2-0 Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision cleared Balogun for the Round of 16 match, which USA won 4-1 against Belgium.

Why it matters

Under normal circumstances, the red card would have ruled Balogun out of the Belgium match, so the reversal directly shaped the lineup for a knockout-round game. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it was astonished by the decision and is investigating all potential options.

The reversal removed a red card that would have sidelined Balogun, with USA then winning 4-1 over Belgium. Whether Belgium's federation will pursue a formal challenge to the decision remains unresolved.

The players

Folarin Balogun

Balogun is a USA striker whose red card was rescinded before the Round of 16 match.

FIFA

FIFA is the international governing body for soccer that oversees the World Cup and its disciplinary decisions.

The details

Balogun was sent off after fouling Tarik Muharemovic in USA's Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The FIFA Committee later lifted the ban, and Belgium's federation said it was investigating all potential options after the USA 4-1 win.

Round of 32: USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 and Balogun was sent off.
Round of 16 (Monday): USA defeated Belgium 4-1 after the ban was lifted.

Season Trajectory

The reversal departs from the usual suspension that follows a straight red card under FIFA World Cup disciplinary rules, which would have kept Balogun out of a knockout match. It reshapes USA's path through the tournament after a 4-1 win over Belgium.

The lifted ban means Balogun was available for the Belgium match, which affects how USA's lineup and rotation read for fantasy and betting purposes. The reversal is a concrete change to who played in a single knockout game rather than a broader rule change.

The takeaway

Disciplinary decisions in tournament play can change lineups on short notice, so monitoring official FIFA announcements helps explain why a player was or was not available. The Belgian federation's pending review is the next point to watch.