FIFA Rejects Belgian Appeal on Balogun's Eligibility for World Cup Game

FIFA's Appeal Committee rejected a challenge by Belgian soccer authorities to the eligibility of U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in a World Cup knockout game in Seattle on Monday night.

FIFA, soccer's international governing body, said that the Royal Belgian Football Association challenge "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" to give Balogun a one-game suspension.

Balogun was due to serve that suspension on Monday night as the result of receiving a red card and ejection during last Wednesday's game against Bosnia Herzegovina.

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee reversed Balogun's suspension after President Donald Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the decision.

In its statement Monday, FIFA said, "The chairperson of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Neil Eggleston (from the United States), was not involved in the decision" to reject the Royal Belgian Football Association's challenge to the reversal of the suspension.

The RBFA, in a statement Monday, said that it "is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match."

The RBFA earlier Monday blasted FIFA for refusing to "respond to the RBFA's legitimate requests" about what led to Balogun being allowed to play in the match despite having previously been issued a one-game suspension.

"To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter," the association said in a statement.

"It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match."

RBFA has called FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to play a "direct contradiction" of the competition regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Those regulations say, "If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match."

Balogun, 25, was issued a controversial red card and ejected after a video review during the U.S. 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Trump on Monday confirmed to reporters that he had called Infantino, the FIFA president, to ask him to review the issuing of the card and Balogun's automatic suspension for the match against Belgium.

"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said. "I didn't know what the hell a red card was."

Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA on Truth Social "for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

The Athletic reported earlier Monday that FIFA had granted RBFA the right to formally appeal the decision.

The RBFA later said it had not intended to appeal the decision, but asked for information, which FIFA interpreted as an appeal.

But FIFA provided "no information whatsoever" for the appeal, the RBFA said.

"While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible," the RBFA said.

European soccer's governing body, UEFA, in a statement Monday said that FIFA had "crossed a red line" with the decision, which it called "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable."

"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," UEFA said.

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," UEFA said. "Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition."

"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. 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," UEFA said.

U.S. Soccer, in a statement on Sunday, said, "We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow."

"Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans," U.S. Soccer said.

The New York Times reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun's suspension, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House called Infantino for that purpose.

Citing a U.S. official, MS NOW reported that during the call, Trump wanted to better understand why Balogun was hit with a red card and why that led to his suspension.

The official said that the "U.S. government" provided "additional evidence" directed to FIFA and that the association's Disciplinary Committee used that information in the process that led to the reversal of Balogun's suspension.

The government focused on referees reviewing a slow-motion replay before the red card was issued, according to the official.

"Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved," the official told MS NOW.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC

Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

He has enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino, the president of FIFA, which awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize last year, after the president ferociously pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and did not win it.

Trump's 2025 financial disclosure, which became public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July's FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.