World Cup 2026: Why US star Folarin Balogun can play vs. Belgium

As the United States salted away a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thoughts turned to Folarin Balogun, and his status for Monday night’s match against Belgium in the Round of 16. Balogun had received a controversial red card in the second half of that match, and faced an automatic one-match suspension as a result. As had been pointed out here at SB Nation and elsewhere, Balogun and the United States are unable to appeal the red card.

But that does not mean he cannot play on Monday night.

According to several sources, and first reported by The Athletic, FIFA’s disciplinary committee is implementing Article 27 of the governing body’s disciplinary code, which allows for the suspension of discipline — such as Balogun’s potential one-match ban against Belgium — pending the involved player’s conduct moving forward.

Under Article 27, “the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”

Article 27 goes on to state that “[i]f the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

This is not the first time that FIFA has implemented Article 27 during this World Cup. Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was set to serve a three-match ban after an incident in his team’s penultimate World Cup qualifier, when he was sent off for throwing an elbow at Republic of Ireland defender Dan O’Shea in an incident away from the ball. In that incident Ronaldo was initially shown a yellow card, but that was upgraded to a full red card after video review.

FIFA increased the penalty from a one-match ban to a three-match ban, which he would have served at the start of this World Cup. But the disciplinary committee, under Article 27, suspended the second two matches “under a one-year probation period,” meaning Ronaldo will avoid missing any further fixtures provided he does not commit “another infringement of a similar nature.”

That is now the situation facing Balogun.

Balogun is the USMNT’s leading goal scorer heading into the Round of 16, having scored a brace against Paraguay in the team’s opening match, and a third goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.