U.S. men's national soccer team head coach Mauricio Pochettino said FIFA's decision to rescind Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension is fair.
The ruling allows the striker to return to the lineup for a critical knockout stage game. His availability provides a significant tactical boost to the U.S. offense as they enter the high-stakes environment of the tournament's second round.
FIFA officially rescinded the suspension on July 5, 2026 [3]. The decision follows a period of controversy regarding the original red card, which Pochettino said was an error in judgment by the officials. The coach said there was a widespread perception that the initial call was incorrect.
"99 per cent of people agree it was an unfair red card," Pochettino said [1].
Pochettino said that the team had already suffered enough consequences due to the incident. He said that the reversal of the suspension serves as a necessary correction to a mistake that had unfairly penalized the squad.
"I think it's fair," Pochettino said [2]. "We were punished enough," he said [1].
The ruling comes just before the U.S. faces Belgium in the round-of-16 match on July 6, 2026 [1]. The game is scheduled to take place in Seattle, Washington [1].
Balogun's return ensures the U.S. will have one of its primary attacking threats available for the match. The decision by FIFA to overturn the suspension resolves a point of contention that had clouded the team's preparation for the knockout stage.
“"99 per cent of people agree it was an unfair red card."”
The reversal of Balogun's suspension removes a significant personnel hurdle for the U.S. men's national team ahead of their match against Belgium. By restoring a key striker to the roster, the U.S. regains its full offensive capability, while FIFA's quick action to rescind the card suggests an acknowledgment of a high-profile officiating error that could have unfairly altered the tournament's outcome.
