The U.S. faces Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday at Seattle Stadium with star striker Folarin Balogun eligible to play, after FIFA suspended his one-game suspension for a year-long probationary period. Balogun was given a red card in the July 1 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina after a clash with an opposing player’s foot in the second half; FIFA initially said the red card and suspension were final and could not be appealed.

Controversy Over Red Card and Suspension

Before the U.S. team arrived in Seattle, there were numerous questions about the red card Balogun received in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina; Was the contact with the Bosnian defender’s leg intentional? Had the video referee followed regulations when reviewing the play in slow motion? — Should the play have been escalated to a red card when the on-field referee initially ruled there was no foul at all? Also, why had Balogun been punished so severely when other similar plays in the tournament had avoided such a decision?

The U.S. team had accepted the suspension as a given and prepared for the Belgium match without their leading scorer, as However, a surprise decision by a FIFA disciplinary panel on Sunday reversed the one-game ban, suspending it for a year-long probationary period. FIFA stated that if Balogun committed another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension would be enforced without prejudice to any additional sanctions.

Trump’s Involvement Raises Questions

The controversy deepened when reports surfaced that President Trump had spoken personally with FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the Round of 32 match; According to an official who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity, Trump directly asked Infantino about the red card and one-game suspension. On Monday at the White House. Trump took credit for FIFA’s decision to review the suspension, despite there being no formal evidence of his influence.

The Royal Belgium Football Association (RBFA) released a statement expressing astonishment at FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun to play in the match against Belgium. The RBFA emphasized the need to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in soccer, both at this World Cup and in future tournaments. The RBFA said it was investigating all potential options in response to FIFA’s ruling.

Match Details and Lineups

The U.S. is expected to start with a 4-3-3 formation: Matt Freese in goal, with Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson forming the backline. Midfielders will include Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Malik Tillman; Up front, Sergiño Dest, Folarin Balogun, and Christian Pulisic are expected to lead the attack, while the only unavailable player for the U.S. is Cristian Roldan, who is out with an injury.

Belgium is expected to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Thibaut Courtois in goal, and Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Arthur Theate, and Maxim De Cuyper in defense. The midfield will be anchored by Youri Tielemans and Hans Vanaken, with Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jérémy Doku supporting the lone striker, Charles De Ketelaere. Belgium has no unavailable players for the match.

The head-to-head history between the U.S. and Belgium shows a slight edge for Belgium, with the U.S. having one win, Belgium four, and no draws. The match is set for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 00:00 UTC and will be broadcast live in several countries, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.