USA striker Florian Balogun has been named in the starting XI for its FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium at the Seattle Stadium on Monday.
Balogun had been sent off following a VAR review for a challenge on Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic during USA’s 2-0 win in the round of 32.
The red card initially meant an automatic one-match suspension, ruling the forward out of the Belgium match, before FIFA suspended the implementation of the sanction for a probationary period of one year.
Balogun has three goals in three appearances in the ongoing World Cup, which includes the opening goal in the win over Bosnia.
It later emerged that USA President Donald Trump had called Gianni Infantino attempting to overturning the decision, though Infantino said that he had, “explained that there was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies.”
Belgium attempted to appeal the decision to suspend Balogun’s red card, but a statement by FIFA its appeal was ruled inadmissible as it is “not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision.”
It was further reported by The Athletic that Belgium had told US Soccer to ‘reserve all options” if Balogun is named on the team sheet tonight.
Published on Jul 07, 2026
