The U.S. and Belgium will square off in Seattle on Monday night, with a spot in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup quarterfinals on the line.
Folarin Balogun, U.S.'s top striker, will be eligible to play. Balogun had been hit with a red card in the U.S.'s Round of 32 win over Bosnia. He was set to be suspended for the Round of 16 match against Belgium. However, on Sunday morning, FIFA announced that his red card had been suspended, making him eligible to play tonight.
"USA striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in the co-host’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday at Seattle Stadium. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee issued an update on Sunday on the status of the 25-year-old New York-born attacker, who has three goals for the Stars & Stripes at these global finals," FIFA announced on Sunday.
© Phil Noble-Reuters via Imagn Images.
The U.S. is quite happy with the decision, obviously.
Most felt that Balogun's red card was not deserved. The referee messed up and FIFA has corrected it, in most people's minds.
However, UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, is not happy.
UEFA furious with FIFA's ruling
UEFA feels that FIFA crossed a line by overturning the referee's decision to hand out a red card.
"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," UEFA said. "Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted. It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."
UEFA is in disbelief.
"Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws," the statement continued. "A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole.
"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision."
Kickoff on Monday night is set for 8 p.m. E.T. on FOX.
