FIFA has denied Belgium's appeal to prevent Folarin Balogun from playing in Monday's World Cup last-16 match against the United States, a decision that could plunge the tournament into legal turmoil. The world governing body ruled that Belgium's challenge was inadmissible, stating the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) lacks legal standing to appeal the decision.
Balogun's Suspension Lifted After US Intervention
Balogun, the USMNT striker, had originally received a one-match ban after being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, FIFA suspended the ban pending further proceedings, clearing him to play in Seattle. The decision followed a dramatic intervention involving U.S. President Donald Trump, government officials, U.S. Soccer, and a team of lawyers.
Belgium responded by lodging a formal objection, insisting it had "no alternative" but to challenge Balogun's eligibility. But FIFA's appeal committee threw out the challenge, saying the RBFA is not a party to the proceedings and therefore has no standing to appeal.
Belgium Warns USA, Threatens CAS Appeal
Despite the setback, Belgium has indicated the matter is not over. In a statement, the RBFA said it has not received written reasons for FIFA's decision or requested documentation, including the referee's report and full explanation for Balogun's eligibility. The federation claims this constitutes a breach of FIFA regulations.
The statement added: "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 for a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee's report. 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."
One possible action is an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which could convene quickly at major events and rule within days. If the USA wins, a CAS appeal could throw the World Cup into chaos.
Match Details
The two teams face off at 1am on Tuesday for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals. The match is being played in Seattle, one of the co-host cities for the 2026 tournament.
