American striker Florian Balogun has been named in the starting line-up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup match 16 against Belgium at Seattle Stadium on Monday.
Balogun was sent off following a VAR review for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during the USA’s 2-0 win in the round of 32.
The red card initially carried an automatic one-match ban, ruling the attacker out of the Belgian match, before FIFA suspended the implementation of the sanction for a one-year trial period.
Balogun has scored three goals in three appearances at the ongoing World Cup, including the opening goal in the win over Bosnia.
It later emerged that US President Donald Trump had called Gianni Infantino in an attempt to overturn the decision, although Infantino said he had “explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judiciary and that the matter would be decided by the appropriate authorities in due course.”
Belgium tried to appeal the decision to suspend Balogun’s red card, but a FIFA statement was declared inadmissible. “not a party to the proceedings and as such has no standing to appeal the decision.”
It was further reported by The Athletics that Belgium had told US Soccer to ‘reserve all options’ if Balogun is named on the team sheet tonight.
Published on July 7, 2026
