FIFA rejects Belgium's request to keep one-game suspension on US's Folarin Balogun for Monday game

FIFA on Monday rejected an appeal by Belgium to the international group organizing the 2026 World Cup tournament to enforce a one-game suspension of U.S. player Folarin Balogun, ahead of his team's match this evening with the U.S. team. 

His suspension in a game Wednesday, as a result of receiving a "red card" from the referee for what was ruled a flagrant foul, has resulted in an international uproar.

President Trump was reported over the weekend to have asked FIFA to lift the suspension, which was in fact lifted.

Trump said Monday that he only asked the decision be reviewed. 

FiFA reportedly said about Belgium's appeal that it was "not a party to the proceedings."

In addition, FIFA announced around seven hours before kickoff on Monday that Belgium didn't have standing to challenge the decision, according to USA Today.

"The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun following his dismissal for a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium," a FIFA statement read.