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FIFA Rejects Belgium’s Appeal Over Folarin Balogun’s Eligibility

FIFA has rejected Belgium's attempt to challenge the eligibility of United States forward Folarin Balogun, clearing the way for the World Cup star to remain available after his one-match suspension was put on hold…

Andrew PowellJul 6, 20262 min read

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FIFA has rejected Belgium's attempt to challenge the eligibility of United States forward Folarin Balogun, clearing the way for the World Cup star to remain available after his one-match suspension was put on hold.

According to Fox News, the decision came just hours before the United States faced Belgium, ending an effort by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) to overturn FIFA's earlier ruling involving Balogun's red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In a statement, FIFA said its Appeal Committee ruled Belgium's request was inadmissible because the federation was not directly involved in the disciplinary case.

"The FIFA Appeal Committee has rendered a request submitted by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) as inadmissible in relation to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision to suspend for one year the match suspension imposed on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun following his dismissal for a direct red card during the

FIFA World Cup

2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium," FIFA said.

The governing body added that Appeal Committee chair Neil Eggleston, who is from the United States, did not participate in the decision.

FIFA also explained why Belgium's challenge could not move forward.

"The request 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," the statement said.

The Belgian federation responded by criticizing FIFA's handling of the matter and said it had not received documentation explaining the decision.

"To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure id est a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee's report. Which is a breach of FIFA regulations," the federation said.

Belgium also indicated it may continue pursuing the issue if Balogun appears in the match.

"The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee's team sheet. This leaves all further actions open," the federation added.

FIFA's ruling leaves its earlier disciplinary decision in place, allowing Balogun to remain eligible while the suspended one-match ban is on hold.