FIFA earns Trump’s gratitude for sparing USA’s Balogun from one-game World Cup ban

Folarin Balogun, left, and teammate Christian Pulisic of the United States reacts to him receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between last Wednesday. Photo by Charlotte Wilson /GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

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President Donald Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA for suspending Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban and allowing the U.S. striker to play in the World Cup co-hosts’ last-16 showdown against Belgium.

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Balogun had been set to miss Monday’s match after controversially being shown a straight red card following a VAR review in the last-32 game against Bosnia-Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of defender Tarik Muharemovic as the U.S. won 2-0.

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Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player’s team.

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But football governing body FIFA said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a surprise move for which no specific explanation was offered.

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“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

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Balogun has been key to the USA’s progress in the tournament and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team in the game in Seattle.

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He has netted three times for the U.S. this World Cup, including his brace in the opener against Paraguay.

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U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Balogun should “never” have received a red card for the incident, insisting his player had simply been “fighting for the ball” and the contact was not intentional.

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Pochettino said at the time it “should be fair” to appeal the decision.

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But after being informed a FIFA spokesman had said the ban could not be appealed, the U.S. coach had appeared to accept he would have to consider “different options” to lead his team’s attack against Belgium.

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Balogun himself told reporters on Friday the red card ban was “something I have to just accept” and that he was focused on simply supporting his teammates from the stands.

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The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.

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FIFA’s decision came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.