Balogun starts for US against Belgium after suspension lifted following call by Trump to FIFA

Balogun starts for US against Belgium after suspension lifted following call by Trump to FIFA 1 of 4 | Folarin Balogun received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday, triggering an automatic one-game suspension. U.S. President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the game asking FIFA review the red card, and then FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted for the round of 16 match, an extraordinary move that triggered praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team. (Produced by Luke Garratt) 2 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) attends a training session ahead of their World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Belgium in Seattle, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) 3 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the field after receiving 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) 4 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) reacts after scoring his team’s first 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/Julio Cortez) 1 of 4 Folarin Balogun received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday, triggering an automatic one-game suspension. U.S. President Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the game asking FIFA review the red card, and then FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted for the round of 16 match, an extraordinary move that triggered praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team. (Produced by Luke Garratt) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) attends a training session ahead of their World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Belgium in Seattle, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) 2 of 4 United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) attends a training session ahead of their World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Belgium in Seattle, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the field after receiving 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) 3 of 4 United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) walks off the field after receiving 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) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) reacts after scoring his team’s first 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/Julio Cortez) 4 of 4 United States’ Folarin Balogun (20) reacts after scoring his team’s first 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/Julio Cortez) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Seattle (AP) — Folarin Balogun is in the United States’ starting lineup for Monday’s World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after his red-card suspension was lifted by FIFA in a decision that sparked an uproar across the sport.Balogun’s red card was assessed by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping on an opponent’s ankle last Wednesday during the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.“To have all the players available always is a good news,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said during a pregame interview on the television broadcast. “To have the possibility to have Balo again with us and being available is important for the team. ... He scored three goals and I think he is doing a fantastic job.”Following a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s disciplinary committee suspended the discipline for a year on Sunday, prompting the European governing body UEFA to call the decision “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.” Belgium’s attempt to have FIFA reinstate the suspension was denied by FIFA’s appeals committee, which said the Belgian federation lacked standing. 1 MIN READ 2 MIN READ 4 MIN READ Belgium fans chanted “FIFA Mafia” during their pregame march to Lumen Field.Infantino said he did not play a role in the decision by the disciplinary committee, which also fined Balogun $40,000, a penalty that can be paid by the U.S. Soccer Federation. The U.S. started an unchanged lineup, while Belgium dropped Jérémy Doku and Kevin DeBruyne, who began on the bench along with Romelu Lukaku. The Red Devils also left out Artur Teatre and Hans Vanaken, while inserting Dodi Lukébakio, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin and Nathan Ngoy.Balogun’s three goals lead the U.S., which has never won consecutive knockout-rounds games at the World Cup. Belgium eliminated the Americans in the 2014 round of 16. The U.S.-Belgium winner faces Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco. The U.S. last reached the quarterfinals in 2002, when it was knocked out by Germany. The Americans advanced to the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930.___See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here