United States midfielder Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates with teammate United States forward Folarin Balogun (20) after a goal against Paraguay in the first half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, June 12, 2026.
Medianews Group/pasadena Star-news Via Getty Images | Medianews Group | Getty Images
President Donald Trump on Sunday cheered FIFA’s decision to reverse a one-game suspension of U.S Men’s National Team striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play against Belgium in Monday’s World Cup match.
Balogun received a controversial red card in the U.S.’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.
That normally results in an immediate one-game suspension without appeal. But the international soccer governing body reversed the suspension on Sunday.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
FIFA, in a statement on Sunday, said: “By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year.”
Balogun is a U.S. citizen by birth who grew up in the United Kingdom.
Trump last week lost a case at the Supreme Court challenging birthright citizenship, with a majority of justices ruling that individuals born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens. Trump last year issued an executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship sharply.
