Mundial 2026 | Folarin Balogun: know where he plays and his market value

The 2026 World Cup is already embroiled in controversy as FIFA announced the suspension of a disciplinary ban on US forward Folarin Balogun, allowing him to play in the crucial Round of 16 match against Belgium. The decision came just hours before the scheduled game.

Balogun, who was born in New York and represents the US national team, received a direct red card on July 1 during the team's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The incident occurred in the 64th minute when the referee, Raphael Claus, showed Balogun a red card for stepping on the leg of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović while contesting the ball. This expulsion would have made him unavailable for the pivotal match against Belgium.

However, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee's report introduced an unexpected turn. While initially confirming the one-match suspension, the committee later stated the ban would be "suspended for a probationary period of one year," citing Article 27 of the Disciplinary Code. This effectively cleared Balogun, who is the team's top scorer with three goals in the tournament, to play.

The controversy intensified when it was revealed that US President Donald Trump had personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun's red card. Trump publicly acknowledged his intervention, stating he merely asked for a review as he did not believe the action warranted an expulsion. Following FIFA's decision, Trump celebrated on his social media platform, Truth Social, thanking FIFA for "doing the right thing and reversing a great injustice."

The intervention has drawn sharp criticism from Europe, with UEFA questioning the decision and stating that FIFA had "crossed a red line" by not enforcing the suspension. Balogun, who currently plays for AS Monaco in France's Ligue 1, arrived in the US squad after representing England's youth teams. His market value is estimated at 40 million euros.