USA vs. Belgium live updates: USMNT score, news and highlights from World Cup 2026

FIFA president Gianni Infantino broke his silence Monday morning on the decision to suspend USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban, news that rocked the World Cup as he’s now allowed to play vs. Belgium Monday evening in the Round of 16.

Infantino explained how the decision was reached and gave his side of the phone call he had with President Trump, who earlier Monday said in the Oval Office he asked Infantino to review the red card but “didn’t tell him what to do.”

“I have seen the public comments regarding the decision of the independent FIFA Disciplinary Committee related to the suspension of Folarin Balogun, and I would like to reiterate a fundamental principle of FIFA’s governance,” Infantino said in a statement.

Read more The USMNT faces its defining World Cup moment after Folarin Balogun’s surprising return

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WASHINGTON — President Trump claimed Monday that he asked FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino to review US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card, which would have kept him out of an elimination match against Belgium — with Trump admitting that “I didn’t think it was a foul.”

“I didn’t tell [Infantino] what to do,” the president responded to a Post reporter’s question in the Oval Office. “I can’t tell him what to do, but — and I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision — because number one, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”

FIFA shocked the world Sunday by announcing that Balogun’s one-match ban, typically an automatic consequence of any red card, would be suspended for up to one year, clearing the US star to play in Monday night’s match.

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SEATTLE — FIFA’s appeal committee denied Belgium’s appeal of its decision on Folarin Balogun’s red card, meaning the U.S. men’s national team star can indeed play against Belgium.

“The request was rendered inadmissible on the grounds that the RBFA [Royal Belgian Football Association] is not a party to the proceedings and, as such, has no standing to appeal the decision,” FIFA said in a statement.

That is not an end to this extraordinary set of events, which has come to involve President Trump after he called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to — depending on who you believe — either request an explanation for Balogun’s red card or request that it be overturned.

Read more Folarin Balogun cleared to play for USMNT as desperate Belgium appeal fails

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