U.S. players arrived at training still unsure whether Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension had truly been lifted. After FIFA confirmed he can play in the round of 16 against Belgium on Monday, July 6, Chris Richards and Christian Pulisic said they were reliev
SEATTLE — The morning routine at U.S. men’s national team training felt normal at first. The reports on social media didn’t.
Players watching feeds on their phones saw news that FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee had lifted Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension. But because it was coming through social media, they weren’t sure what to make of it.
“We were seeing reports on social media that Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension had been lifted by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee,” one of the defenders, Chris Richards, said, laughing as he described how quickly the rumor spread. “I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first.”
Only when the group reached training did the confirmation arrive. FIFA had verified that Balogun, the USMNT’s leading scorer at this World Cup, can play in the round-of-16 match against Belgium on Monday, July 6.
“I think a lot of people could look at that (card) and yeah, it was extremely harsh. So if you want to call it justice,” Christian Pulisic said. “We were prepared to play without him. We’ve been granted this now opportunity to have him, which is great for us.”
Pulisic said the difference wasn’t just tactical. It was personal, too.
“I’m mostly just happy for him,” Pulisic said. “Seeing that smile on his face. He deserves to be playing in this game.”
Balogun had not been included among the three players U.S. Soccer made available ahead of training. Still, Richards and Pulisic said Balogun handled the situation calmly—both when the red card came and when the question of his availability began.
Richards said Balogun accepted the news without showing panic.
“He’s keeping it cool right now. I think he was still nervous about if it was true or not, but I think he’s very excited,” Richards said.
By the time the team stepped into training, Balogun didn’t signal that he had been cleared. He took part in “rondos. ” the keepaway-like game the team always runs at the start of practice. just as he normally does. Earlier, he had posted a photo to Instagram of himself saluting the crowd at a previous game.
The red card that triggered the suspension was handed out in the round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the 64th minute. Balogun received the dismissal after he scraped the back of Tarik Muharemović’s calf and then stepped on his ankle. He was not initially called for a foul, but after a lengthy review, the red card was issued.
Under tournament rules, a red card means an automatic ejection and a suspension for the next match, even if the foul is unintentional. But on Sunday, July 5, FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee announced it was suspending the suspension for a year.
The committee also made a similar decision earlier at this World Cup, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to play in Portugal’s first two games.
Pulisic said the adjustment felt warranted.
“I think if you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all. And I felt like there was much worse ones that went on in this tournament,” Pulisic said.
“Again, I thought like Balo handled it so well and I think the team handled it well. We weren’t here to complain,” Pulisic added. “You have to handle it in a good way and good things happen, I think, to people like that. And he was so positive. It just feels right, I guess.”
Even though U.S. Soccer had been in contact with the committee, Richards said the team didn’t know lifting the suspension was even on the table. FIFA had confirmed the discipline the day after the Bosnia match.
Richards said the squad prepared for a world in which Balogun wouldn’t be available.
“Though U.S. Soccer ‘was engaged’ with the Disciplinary Committee, Richards said the team didn’t know there was a possibility Balogun’s suspension could be lifted. FIFA had confirmed the discipline the day after the game,” he said.
Balogun trained as normal, but the team’s plan included the possibility he would have to sit.
“I just worry about what goes on on the field,” Richards said. “I think we’re all happy with this decision.”
For Richards, Pulisic, and defender Alex Freeman, the idea of playing without Balogun wasn’t what bothered them. They said they would have handled it. But they also made clear the team is better with him.
Balogun’s impact in the tournament has been direct: he scored a brace in the opener against Paraguay and was responsible for forcing the opening own goal. He also scored the U.S. first goal in the 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. a result that marked the Americans’ first victory in a knockout game since 2002.
“He strikes fear into a lot of defenders,” Richards said. “He’s had a good season at Monaco and he came in here with the same momentum.”
Now, the challenge shifts to the final mental swing. Balogun spent the past four days believing he wouldn’t be able to play, and then, with the Belgium match approaching, he learned a day before the game that he can.
Freeman said he doesn’t expect the disruption to show.
“Mentally he’ll be good,” Freeman said. “He’s mentally prepared. He’s a strong man and I think he’s mentally ready to go and make an impact.”
For the USMNT, it’s a turnaround that arrived late enough to test patience—but early enough to change how they prepare for the round of 16. On Monday, July 6, Balogun’s return is the clearest sign yet that the tournament can still shift in a single decision.
USMNT Folarin Balogun FIFA Disciplinary Committee Belgium World Cup round of 16 Christian Pulisic Chris Richards Alex Freeman red card suspension