Surprised US National Team Player Folarin Balogun Can Play After Suspension Is Overturned
July 5, 2026 · Global
The US men's national team was shocked to learn that Folarin Balogun's red card suspension was overturned, allowing him to play in the match against Belgium.
SEATTLE — Imagine you're sitting on the bus on your way to practice, just going about your daily activities. Maybe you're listening to music or playing Clash Royale, preparing for the most important match of your career. Suddenly, you're inundated with breaking news from social media and family members asking if it's true. That's what the US men's national team experienced on Sunday morning when it was confirmed that starting striker Folarin Balogun could play in Monday's big round of 16 match against Belgium. Balogun, who leads the team with three goals at this World Cup, previously received a controversial red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week. This triggered a one-game suspension, meaning the US had to face European giants Belgium without him. But on Monday morning, FIFA reversed the decision, paving the way for Balogun to play. The players were surprised and happy. On the 10-minute drive from their hotel in downtown Seattle to Husky Football Stadium on the University of Washington campus, they saw the news on social media and were then quickly informed by the US Soccer Association that it was a reality. "We're not sure whether that's true or not," defender Chris Richards told reporters ahead of Sunday's training session. "I think everyone knows with AI and everything, there can be some question marks. ... My family probably sent me eight tweets, but I'm not sure - no one told us in advance that this was going to happen," Richards added. "I didn't respond to [them] because I didn't know, and finally, it was confirmed when we got off the bus." A U.S. Soccer Association spokesman told reporters at the practice field on Sunday that "we are engaged in the process with the disciplinary committee." The players don't really care how it happens - they are already ready to face Belgium with adjustments and line-ups that may be decided by manager Mauricio Pochettino. They think that there will be the same 10 regular starters with Ricardo Pepi coming in for Balogun as the closest replacement despite their different skills. “Yeah, I think we're confident in every player regardless of who's going to take the field,” Richards said. “But I think knowing that we have the whole squad probably gives us a little more confidence.” Balogun, who just celebrated his 25th birthday on Friday, spoke to journalists a few days ago and handled every question about his red card and suspension with maturity and class. He shook the hand of every referee after the round of 32 match, explaining later that he wanted to set an example to the young children watching and show them "the right way to handle things, even when you feel like it's unfair." American advocates across the country have spent the past few days making their voices heard on the issue with memes and the words "Free Balo" on t-shirts and Starbucks coffee cups. So, how did Balogun react when he found out he could play? “He kept his cool,” Richards said with a laugh. "I think he's pretty happy, but you wouldn't know at the moment." However, the rest of the team was “really excited,” Richards said with a laugh. Weston McKennie shouts "welcome back!" by joking to Balogun when training started. “Obviously, we're relying on Flo to lead the line and she's done that really well so far in the tournament,” Richards said. "We are very happy and excited that the decision has been reversed."