The United States Men’s National Team had a drama-filled weekend following a gutsy 2-0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the round of 32 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S.’s top goal scorer, Folarin Balogun, was assessed a red card in the second half of the victory, which would’ve normally meant his suspension for the squad’s round of 16 match with Belgium on Monday.
Shockingly, FIFA announced on Sunday that Balogun’s suspension itself would be suspended, making him eligible to compete against Belgium.
“The FIFA disciplinary committee has imposed the following sanction on United States national-team player Folarin Balogun, who was sent off as a result of a direct red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina played on 1 July 2026 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium: One-match suspension for breaches of articles 14 and 66 of the FIFA disciplinary code (FDC),” FIFA wrote in a statement.
“In line with article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year. 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.”
On Monday, United States President Donald Trump acknowledged his role in getting Balogun’s eligibility restored.
“”I saw the play, and I’m a person that loves sports … that wasn’t a foul,” Trump told reporters. “That wasn’t even an infraction … this referee, who is a little bit suspect if you check his past. He made a call that nobody could believe … he’s our best player, or one of our best players. And he gave him a red card. I didn’t know what that meant … yes, I asked for a review by FIFA.”
However, things went about as poorly as possible against Belgium for the USMNT, which lost the match 4-1. Belgium looked like the superior squad from start to finish, leaving many to wonder if Trump was better off leaving well enough alone, especially with many fans, analysts, and pundits questioning the integrity of the USMNT, and Balogun himself apologizing to Belgium’s coach Rudi Garcia for the controversy after the match.
Mamdani takes a different approach
Meanwhile, in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made an announcement that will unquestionably have a positive impact on soccer stateside. The beloved mayor announced on Monday that the city would be introducing 24/7 soccer fields in the city.
Now presenting 24/7 soccer fields in the city that never sleeps.
Find your next late-night game at https://t.co/HIZoGWHbeL. pic.twitter.com/Oe5tTxErQm
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) July 6, 2026
Not only will the fields have a positive impact on the youth in the city, but they could also lead to an embrace of soccer for the next generation, which could lead to a massive increase in talent for the USMNT in the decades to come. In this case, it’s obvious which politician had a superior impact on the sport.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.