FIFA suspends Balogun's one-match ban; striker available for Belgium clash

Folarin Balogun is eligible to play for the United States in their World Cup last-16 tie against Belgium after FIFA suspended his one-match ban. The 25-year-old striker was shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic as the co-hosts won their last-32 match 2-0.

FIFA stated that the automatic one-match suspension will be deferred for a probationary period of one year. "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," the governing body 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."

US President Donald Trump thanked FIFA for "reversing a great injustice" in a post on Truth Social. Trump wrote: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP."