Balogun starts for US after red card suspended

U.S. striker Folarin Balogun is set to start in Monday's World Cup last-16 clash against Belgium. This comes after FIFA suspended the red card sanction he received in the team's previous match, with a FIFA appeals committee decisively rejecting Belgium's challenge to the ruling.

Balogun, who leads the U.S. in scoring at the tournament with three goals, will spearhead the American attack alongside Christian Pulisic. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino has selected Matt Freese to start in goal, maintaining the same lineup as the previous match against Bosnia. The starting lineup for the U.S. includes Freese, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Malik Tillman, and Folarin Balogun.

On the Belgian side, key players Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Jeremy Doku are notably starting on the bench. The Belgian starting XI consists of Thibaut Courtois, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Youri Tielemans, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana, and Dodi Lukebakio. This strategic decision by the Belgian coach suggests a potential plan to utilize their star power later in the match.