FIFA confirms Balogun’s one-match suspension after controversial red card
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The United States Men’s National Team is coming off a blowout victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night, but there is a big cloud hanging over them for their next game against Belgium.
This is because the team will be without star striker Folarin Balogun after he received a highly controversial red card in the second half of the game.
This of course means a suspension is looming, but there was good news for the US on Friday, where FIFA confirmed the suspension would only be for one match.
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While it was always unlikely that FIFA would add additional games to Balogun’s suspension, they have officially decided not to do so, and that is the best possible outcome for the United States in this scenario.
US forward Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card was one of the biggest moments of the team’s win over Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Since the United States had no mechanism to appeal this decision, it could only hope that the suspension was limited to one match.
Balogun made his first comments about the incident on Friday, shortly after FIFA’s decision to continue the suspension for one match was made public.
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“It’s important for me to say, first of all, that this was completely unintentional,” he said on Friday. “It was the referee’s choice. I don’t think it was the right choice. I think the yellow card would be fair because it was not intentional.”
“This is something that happens; we need to move forward and I have to accept that.”
Folarin Balogun of the USA celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026. (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
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Balogun will certainly be missed in Monday’s game against Belgium in Seattle, as he leads the team with three goals this tournament.
But now, if the Americans can pull off even a slight upset against the Belgians, they’ll be relieved to know he’ll be back on the court in the quarterfinals.
