Belgium loses appeal of Balogun eligibility after Trump defends intervention with FIFA

FIFA's media account on Monday said the association had rejected an appeal by Belgian soccer authorities that challenged the eligibility of U.S. Men's National Team striker Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium in a World Cup knockout game in Seattle on Monday night.

FIFA, soccer's international governing body, said that the Royal Belgian Football Association challenge "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" to give Balogun a one-game suspension, FIFA's media account on X said.

The post, which had linked to FIFA's intranet, was quickly deleted.

Balogun was due to serve that suspension on Monday night as the result of receiving a red card and ejection during last Wednesday's game against Bosnia Herzegovina.

FIFA reversed the suspension after President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review Balogun's automatic suspension.

The Royal Belgian Football Association, in a statement earlier Monday, blasted FIFA for refusing to "respond to the RBFA's legitimate requests" about what led to Balogun being allowed to play in the match despite having previously been issued a one-game suspension.

"To be clear, as of this moment, the RBFA has still not received any decision or any explanation from FIFA regarding this matter," the association said in a statement.

"It therefore has no alternative but to challenge the player's eligibility for the upcoming match."

RBFA has called FIFA's decision to allow Balogun to play a "direct contradiction" of the competition regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Those regulations say, "If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card (second caution), they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match."

Balogun, 25, was issued a controversial red card and ejected after a video review during the U.S. 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday.

Trump on Monday confirmed to reporters that he had called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask him to review the issuing of the card and Balogun's automatic suspension for the match against Belgium.

"I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," Trump said. "I didn't know what the hell a red card was."

Trump on Sunday thanked FIFA on Truth Social "for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"

The Athletic reported earlier Monday that FIFA had granted RBFA the right to formally appeal the decision.

The RBFA later said it had not intended to appeal the decision, but asked for information, which FIFA interpreted as an appeal.

But FIFA provided "no information whatsoever" for the appeal, the RBFA said.

"While the RBFA was merely seeking legitimate explanations, FIFA itself created an appeal and immediately ensured that it would be declared inadmissible," the RBFA said.

European soccer's governing body, UEFA, in a statement Monday said that FIFA had "crossed a red line" with the decision, which it called "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable."

"Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition," UEFA said.

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," UEFA said. "Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition."

"Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole," UEFA said.

U.S. Soccer, in a statement on Sunday, said, "We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow."

"Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans," U.S. Soccer said.

Balogun was issued a red card during the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed him landing on the ankle of Tarik Muharemovic during contact between the two players.

That red card resulted in an immediate one-game suspension without appeal, as is normal.

But FIFA, for the first time in more than 60 years of World Cup matches, said it would allow him to play in the next game.

FIFA, in a statement on Sunday, said that "the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year."

FIFA cited Article 27 of its disciplinary code, which says, "The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."

The New York Times reported that Trump called Infantino on Wednesday and asked him to review Balogun's suspension, citing three people familiar with the conversation. Sports broadcaster Ben Jacobs first reported that the White House called Infantino for that purpose.

Citing a U.S. official, MS NOW reported that during the call, Trump wanted to better understand why Balogun was hit with a red card and why that led to his suspension.

The official said that the "U.S. government" provided "additional evidence" directed to FIFA and that the association's Disciplinary Committee used that information in the process that led to the reversal of Balogun's suspension.

The government focused on referees reviewing a slow-motion replay before the red card was issued, according to the official.

"Ultimately the correct and proper outcome was achieved," the official told MS NOW.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC

Trump has been heavily involved in the tournament, which the U.S. is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada.

He has enjoyed a close relationship with Infantino, the president of FIFA, which awarded Trump its inaugural peace prize last year, after the president ferociously pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and did not win it.

Trump's 2025 financial disclosure, which became public last week, revealed that Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets, valued at $15,000, to last July's FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Trump attended that match, where Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, and joined Infantino on the field to present the trophy.

The U.S. team will face Belgium in Seattle on Monday in a Round of 16 match at 8 p.m. ET. The match's winner will punch their ticket to play either Portugal or Spain in the quarterfinal.

Balogun, who has scored three goals over the three games he has appeared in at this World Cup, is a U.S. citizen by birth who grew up in the United Kingdom.

— CNBC's Luke Fountain contributed to this article.