FIFA has suspended the one-match ban for Folarin Balogun, allowing the star striker to compete for the United States in their upcoming World Cup last-16 match against Belgium. This decision was made following an intervention by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, July 5, 2026.
Balogun's Suspension and Trump's Role
Balogun, the top scorer for the US with three goals in the tournament, received a straight red card for a foul against Bosnia-Herzegovina's Tarik Muharemovic during their last-32 match, which the US won 2-0. FIFA's statement indicated that Balogun's suspension would be held in abeyance for a probationary period of one year.
The decision to suspend the ban came after Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, expressing his concerns over what he termed a
