The soccer world is in an uproar. After FIFA made the stunning decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card just hours before the U.S. Men's National Team's Round of 16 clash against Belgium, fans from around the globe are crying foul—and some are demanding the United States never host another World Cup.
Balogun, the 25-year-old U.S. striker, was sent off in the 64th minute of the Americans' group-stage win over Bosnia. Under standard FIFA rules, a red card triggers an automatic one-match suspension. But on Sunday, the governing body announced that the ban had been lifted, citing an obscure disciplinary code provision—and reports quickly emerged that the White House had intervened.
“USA striker Folarin Balogun will be available to play in the co-host’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday at Seattle Stadium,” FIFA stated, adding that the disciplinary committee had issued an update on his status.
The decision has ignited a firestorm. A tweet from a European soccer fan declaring “Hate to say it but the world cup cannot be anywhere near the USA again. Political influence shouldn’t play a part in this sport” has already racked up 31,000 likes and nearly half a million views. The sentiment is echoing across social media, with many accusing FIFA of giving the U.S. preferential treatment as a co-host.
The Belgian federation (RBFA) didn't hold back. In a blistering statement, they expressed “astonishment” at FIFA's move, pointing out that Article 66.4 of the same disciplinary code clearly states a red card “automatically results in a suspension for the team’s next match.” They also noted that the World Cup competition regulations explicitly say a player sent off “will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match,” and that this rule was reaffirmed in official FIFA circulars and match coordination meetings.
“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino defended the reversal, arguing that playing with 10 men for 30 minutes against Bosnia was punishment enough for a red card he called “unfair.” “It’s not because I’m the head coach of the USA… I think 99.9% of people agree it was an unfair red card,” Pochettino said.
But for many outside the U.S., this feels like a blatant double standard—especially after controversial refereeing decisions in other matches have sparked similar outrage. The incident also comes on the heels of Canada coach Jesse Marsch's bizarre comments after his team's elimination, adding to the sense that North American co-hosts are getting special treatment.
With the U.S. now set to face Belgium with Balogun in the lineup, the debate over fairness and integrity is far from over. And as the most anticipated 48-hour stretch of the tournament unfolds, the question lingers: will the World Cup ever return to American soil?
