USA forward Folarin Balogun has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the reversal of his one-match suspension, insisting he had no role in the process after FIFA allowed him to return for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
Balogun’s eligibility became a major talking point ahead of the knockout fixture after FIFA suspended the one-match ban he received following his red card in the United States’ 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Belgium challenged the decision, but world football’s governing body rejected the protest, clearing the striker to feature in Seattle.
Folarin Balogun: ‘We accepted both decisions’
Speaking after the match, Balogun said the USA squad accepted both the original suspension and FIFA’s subsequent decision to overturn it.
“Of course, it’s controversial when the decision is overturned. We accepted the decision when I saw the red card, and we accepted the decision when we were told I could play,” Balogun told ESPN.
“I was not involved in the process. It had nothing to do with me personally.”
Despite the controversy, Balogun’s return could not prevent the co-hosts from crashing out of the tournament.
Also Read: FIFA WC 2026: Belgium crush co-hosts USA to set up quarter-final clash with Spain
Belgium cruise into quarter-finals
Belgium booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals with a convincing 4-1 victory over the United States at Seattle Stadium.
Charles De Ketelaere starred with a first-half brace to claim the Player of the Match award, while Hans Vanaken scored his maiden FIFA World Cup goal. Substitute Romelu Lukaku then wrapped up the win in stoppage time with his third goal in as many World Cup matches.
The USA briefly levelled through Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick, but Belgium quickly restored their advantage before capitalising on a costly mistake by goalkeeper Matt Freese to take complete control of the contest.
Also Read: ‘Overturn this’: Belgium’s savage dig after Balogun ban u-turn as USA crash out
The defeat ended the United States’ World Cup campaign, making them the final co-host nation to be eliminated after Canada and Mexico also bowed out in the Round of 16.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals on July 10, after the Spanish side knocked out Portugal.