In a major boost to the USMNT, FIFA have decided to suspend the one-game ban handed to striker Folarin Balogun, allowing him to be available for their World Cup round of 16 clash against Belgium on Monday night. On Sunday morning, the governing body unexpectedly intervened to suspend the mandatory one-match ban stemming from the forward’s red card on July 1.The 25-year-old forward was sent off during the Americans’ recent victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina following a challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.Though it initially appeared to be a fairly innocuous tackle, replays showed that the striker did appear to scrape his cleats down his rival’s leg. However, the decision still sparked widespread fury online, with many fans calling to overturn the suspension.Now, just days later, USA fans have got their wish after FIFA confirmed that they would suspend Balogun’s one-game ban, making him available for Monday’s game.Among them was US President Donald Trump, who wrote on Truth Social on Sunday: ‘Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right and reversing a great injustice!’ FIFA have suspended the one-game ban given to USA striker Folarin Balogun earlier this week The striker was sent off for a tackle during their 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday morning to praise FIFA for ‘doing what was right’ Meanwhile, in their own statement, FIFA said: ‘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. ‘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.’In response, the USMNT said: ‘We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow. ‘Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans.’ The Daily Mail understands that the USMNT were informed about the decision on Sunday morning, before Balogun was told at a team meeting shortly afterwards.Balogun broke his silence on the matter in the days that followed the USA’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, insisting that he felt a yellow card would’ve been fair.’First and foremost, it was totally unintentional, which I’m sure a lot of people know. But, you know, I think the choice of the referee was, of course, his choice, but I don’t think it was the correct call,’ he told reporters on Friday. ‘I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional. There’s not many places I can place my foot in such a scenario. But it’s happened, and it’s something that I have to accept and move forward from.’ Under Article 10.5 of FIFA’s tournament regulations, the dismissal automatically carries a mandatory one-game suspension. The decision to show Balogun a straight red card sparked widespread fury on social media ‘I think a yellow card would have been fair due to it not being intentional,’ Balogun had said FIFA president Gianni Infantino pictured alongside Donald Trump last monthMultiple FIFA officials had previously confirmed that national teams are prohibited from formally appealing red cards or the subsequent disciplinary sanctions.However, the governing body’s judicial committee utilized a rare stipulation within Article 27 of the disciplinary code to circumvent the immediate ban.The specific regulation allows the committee to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.The disciplinary body recently applied the exact same probationary regulation to Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the tournament.The forward was initially facing a ban following a violent conduct dismissal during a World Cup qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland in November 2025.Ronaldo was sent off after catching defender Dara O’Shea with a trailing elbow during a 2-0 defeat in Dublin.However, after the Portugal captain served a one-game suspension during the team’s subsequent 9-1 victory over Armenia, FIFA intervened.The governing body suspended the final two matches of the ban under a one-year probation period, clearing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to lead his country from the start of the current tournament.