FIFA dismisses Belgium appeal over decision on USA's Folarin Balogun

President Donald Trump discusses his role in getting FIFA to reverse a red card decision against a U.S. soccer player, criticizing the referee and praising FIFA's final decision. He also talks about the growing success of soccer in the U.S.

FIFA denied Belgium’s appeal over the decision to suspend USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card in a Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The FIFA Appeal Committee issued a statement hours before kickoff between the U.S. and Belgium.

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United States' Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

"The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun following his dismissal for a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium," FIFA said. "The chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston (from the United States), was not involved in the decision.

"The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision."

Folarin Balogun of the U.S. men's national team speaks to media before training in Seattle, Washington, on July 3, 2026. (Steven