1 loss to Belgium, red card controversy
News
Balogun was deemed eligible to play after his one-game ban was lifted by FIFA.
The United States’ run in the 2026 World Cup has come to a close after a 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday.
The loss comes after the U.S. men’s national team’s star striker, Folarin Balogun, was deemed eligible to play in the match after his one-game suspension from a red card was put on hold by FIFA.
Details
Belgium will go on to face Spain in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles on Friday.
Balogun was given a red card during the July 1 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina after the U.S. player clashed with an opposing player’s foot in the second half. The penalty automatically landed Balogun a one-game suspension. FIFA told ABC News at the time that the call was final and not able to be overturned or appealed.
FIFA said on Sunday that “the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
Analysis
The football governing body added that if Balogun “commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”
Ahead of Monday night’s game, the U.S. men’s national team confirmed that Balogun will be in the starting lineup.
The Royal Belgium Football Association (RBFA) released a statement Sunday that said in part that it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play in Monday’s match against them.
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