Folarin Balogun is officially cleared to play in the USMNT’s World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium. The Disciplinary Committee overturned his suspension following a controversial red card received against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2.
The striker kept his reaction brief and focused as anticipation builds for the knockout game in Seattle. “It just feels right, I guess,” Balogun told reporters. USMNT teammates, including Christian Pulisic, were reportedly stunned and thrilled by the sudden reversal.
The decision rescues the American attack, keeping their top goalscorer on the pitch. Balogun has buried three goals in the tournament so far and serves as the focal point of the front line. U.S. Soccer officially welcomed the ruling. “We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle,” the federation confirmed, according to a report verifying his clearance.
The original 64th-minute ejection in the 2-0 victory drew intense scrutiny, with fans and analysts pointing to misapplied VAR protocols as the root of the officiating error. Now, the 2026 squad heads into the elimination stage at full strength.