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Folarin Balogun is reportedly cleared to feature for the U.S. men's national team in its World Cup round of 16 showdown with Belgium on Monday, despite receiving a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Balogun had been expected to sit out one game under a non-appealable suspension according to FIFA tournament regulations, but The Athletic, citing anonymous sources, reports that the 25-year-old will be permitted to play as Mauricio Pochettino's Stars and Stripes aim to extend their remarkable run.
Article 27 of FIFA's disciplinary code states that "the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."—a provision that was previously invoked when Cristiano Ronaldo escaped a three-match suspension after receiving a straight red card while representing Portugal in a pre-World Cup friendly.
Neither U.S. Soccer nor FIFA has officially confirmed Balogun's availability, but the potential return of the USMNT's chief attacking threat dramatically alters the outlook of a match where the victor advances to the quarterfinals and faces either Portugal or Spain.
Balogun's Reaction Suggests He Didn't See This Coming
When speaking to the media on Friday, Balogun appeared visibly downcast when asked about his red card—a decision that drew widespread criticism from players, fans, and analysts, particularly given that Lionel Messi had escaped similar punishment after accidentally treading on an opponent's Achilles while playing for Argentina.
USMNT icon and television pundit Alexi Lalas described it as an "absolute joke of a refereeing night," while Balogun expressed his belief that the officials had failed to apply proper judgment or context when reaching their decision.
"If you've played the game, you would understand there are scenarios that you simply can't avoid... it has to be taken into context when it's being reviewed," he said. "I felt it wasn't on this occasion, but I think, as you all saw, if there's nowhere else to put your leg, it's going to be unavoidable.
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"I've seen many different opinions and takes, but for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair, and it's something that's happened, so we have to move forward, and I have to accept it.
"It's been a roller coaster [48 hours had passed when Balogun spoke]. There's been lots of different emotions. I've been upset. I've been happy. It's been surreal, to be honest, but for me, it was important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger or emotion."
What Will Pochettino Do Now?
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Without Balogun, Pochettino would have turned to Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright as replacements. Pepi featured in the dead-rubber 3–2 loss to Türkiye during the group stage and struggled to make an impact, though he arrived at the tournament off the back of an outstanding campaign with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.
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Wright also enjoyed a strong season with Coventry City in England, helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League, yet he has managed just one minute of action this summer under Pochettino. This suggests he may not fully fit the high-intensity system the Argentine manager wants to deploy—a style that Balogun is ideally built for and has thrived within.
Should Balogun be cleared to play, Pochettino will almost certainly hand him a starting berth. That decision could prove decisive against Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle, potentially positioning the USMNT as favorites to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years.