🚨 Folarin Balogun cleared to face Belgium after FIFA rejects appeal

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�� Folarin Balogun cleared to face Belgium after FIFA rejects appeal

🚨 Folarin Balogun cleared to face Belgium after FIFA rejects appeal

Folarin Balogun is available to play for the United States against Belgium tonight after FIFA confirmed that an appeal challenging his eligibility has been dismissed.

The FIFA Appeal Committee ruled that the Belgian Football Association's appeal was inadmissible, clearing the way for the striker to feature in the World Cup last-16 clash.

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In a statement, FIFA said: "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."

The ruling ends the uncertainty surrounding Balogun's availability just hours before kick-off, with the forward now expected to be included in Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the meeting with Belgium.

Belgium had sought to overturn an earlier FIFA decision allowing Balogun to return to the United States setup, but the Appeal Committee found the Belgian federation had no legal standing to challenge the case.

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Earlier on Monday, President Donald Trump revealed in a White House press conference that he spoke to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino about the appeal. Infantino has since released his own statement saying “FIFA’s judicial bodies are independent. They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them."

Story by

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press

GENEVA (AP) — With the integrity of FIFA and the World Cup under attack from European soccer leaders, FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged taking a call from U.S. President Donald Trump before United States star forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium later Monday.

Infantino insisted in a social media post that FIFA's disciplinary committee acted with independence and judged cases such as Balogun's on “applicable regulations and the specific facts.”

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Balogun is free to face Belgium in the round of 16 later Monday in Seattle despite being sent off in the previous round which should have resulted in a mandatory one-game ban.

The Belgian soccer federation earlier said FIFA had not provided key documents for its appeal, and Norway's federation said the lack of legal explanation from FIFA was “reason for concern regarding the integrity of the competition.”

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Graham Dunbar, The Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) reacts to a red card 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 Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) reacts to a red card 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 Associated Press

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, awards President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) - The Associated Press

FILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, awards President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File) - The Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) puts his foot down on Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic (4) for which he received a red card 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/Martin Meissner) - The Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) puts his foot down on Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic (4) for which he received a red card 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/Martin Meissner) - The Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) and United States' Christian Pulisic (10) stand by after Balogun received a red card 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/Martin Meissner) - The Associated Press

United States' Folarin Balogun (20) and United States' Christian Pulisic (10) stand by after Balogun received a red card 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/Martin Meissner) - The Associated Press

United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, left, talks to the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, right, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, centre, watches ahead of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) - The Associated Press

United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, left, talks to the Director of the FBI, Kash Patel, right, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, centre, watches ahead of the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) - The Associated Press