FIFA has deemed the Belgium soccer federation's request for clarification regarding Folarin Balogun's red card as "inadmissible," allowing the United States forward to compete against Belgium in the upcoming World Cup round-of-16 match. This decision was announced on July 6, 2026, just days before the crucial game.
FIFA's Ruling on Balogun's Red Card
The controversy began when Balogun received a red card for stepping on the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic during a match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. This incident led to an automatic one-game suspension, raising questions about his eligibility for the World Cup.
FIFA's statement clarified that there are no provisions in the FIFA Disciplinary Code that would allow the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to appeal the decision. According to FIFA, the RBFA lacked standing to contest the ruling, which further complicated the situation for the Belgian team.
Belgium's Response to FIFA's Decision
The RBFA expressed disappointment with FIFA's ruling, indicating that they had not received adequate explanations for the decision. They stated, "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." This lack of transparency has left Belgium considering its options regarding Balogun's eligibility.
