The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has hit out at FIFA’s decision to allow United States (US) striker Folarin Balogun to play in Monday’s World Cup last-16 match against Belgium, despite receiving a red card in the previous round.

Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the US team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia but was sent off in the second half after a VAR review for planting his boot into the ankle of Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic. The US played the remainder of the match a man down.

FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun would be available for the Belgium game, citing Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which allows the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed sanction.

“…the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

The RBFA responded with a statement expressing its astonishment at the ruling.

“The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) is astonished by FIFA’s decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA–Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. (Seattle time),” the statement read.

The Belgian federation argued that FIFA’s own regulations contradict the decision. It pointed to Article 66.4 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, which states that a red card automatically results in a suspension for a team’s next match, and noted that the rule has applied to every other red card issued during the tournament.

The RBFA also cited Article 10.5 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations. “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. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed,” the article states.

According to the RBFA, the automatic nature of the suspension was reaffirmed in FIFA World Cup 2026 Circular No. 16, which was sent to all participating member associations on May 12, 2026. The federation said the same rule has been repeated at every match coordination meeting and included in all World Cup workshop presentations held during the tournament.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the statement continued.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino had argued that Balogun’s sending off was never a red card. US Soccer welcomed FIFA’s ruling, saying in a statement that it was “pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow.”

Balogun’s teammates said they learned of the decision through social media on their way to training. “We found out about it just coming over here,” American forward Christian Pulisic told reporters. “At first, you’re like, ‘Oh really, is this real?’ And then ‘Oh, this is great news.'”

US President Donald Trump also reacted to the ruling. “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice,” he wrote on Truth Social.

The match will be played at the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. local time on Monday. The US enters the game on the back of wins over Paraguay and Australia in the group stage, followed by the win over Bosnia.

Belgium needed a late comeback against Senegal, scoring twice in the second half to level the match before advancing on a VAR-assisted penalty decision in extra time.