Trump thanks Fifa for overturning USA striker’s ban
USA squad
- Full squad
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1 Matt TURNER Goalkeeper
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2 Sergino DEST Defender
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3 Chris RICHARDS Defender
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4 Tyler ADAMS Midfielder
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5 Antonee ROBINSON Defender
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6 Auston TRUSTY Defender
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7 Giovanni REYNA Midfielder
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8 Weston McKENNIE Midfielder
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9 Ricardo PEPI Forward
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10 Christian PULISIC Forward
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11 Brenden AARONSON Forward
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12 Miles ROBINSON Defender
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13 Tim REAM Defender
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14 Sebastian BERHALTER Midfielder
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15 Cristian ROLDAN Midfielder
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16 Alex FREEMAN Defender
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17 Malik TILLMAN Midfielder
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18 Max ARFSTEN Defender
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19 Haji WRIGHT Forward
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20 Folarin BALOGUN Forward
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21 Timothy WEAH Forward
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22 Mark McKENZIE Defender
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23 Joe SCALLY Defender
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24 Matt FREESE Goalkeeper
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25 Chris BRADY Goalkeeper
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26 Alex ZENDEJAS Forward
Belgium squad
- Full squad
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1 Thibaut COURTOIS Goalkeeper
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2 Zeno DEBAST Defender
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3 Arthur THEATE Defender
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4 Brandon MECHELE Defender
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5 Maxim DE CUYPER Defender
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6 Axel WITSEL Midfielder
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7 Kevin DE BRUYNE Midfielder
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8 Youri TIELEMANS Midfielder
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9 Romelu LUKAKU Forward
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10 Leandro TROSSARD Forward
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11 Jeremy DOKU Forward
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12 Senne LAMMENS Goalkeeper
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13 Mike PENDERS Goalkeeper
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14 Dodi LUKEBAKIO Forward
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15 Thomas MEUNIER Defender
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16 Koni DE WINTER Defender
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17 Charles DE KETELAERE Forward
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18 Joaquin SEYS Defender
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19 Diego MOREIRA Midfielder
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20 Hans VANAKEN Midfielder
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21 Timothy CASTAGNE Defender
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22 Alexis SAELEMAEKERS Midfielder
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23 Nicolas RASKIN Midfielder
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24 Amadou ONANA Midfielder
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25 Nathan NGOY Defender
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26 Matias FERNANDEZ-PARDO Forward
Folarin Balogun was sent off in the USA's World Cup match against Bosnia-Herzegovina after stepping on an opposing defender's ankle during a contested aerial challenge. Following VAR review, the referee issued a straight red card. FIFA opted to suspend Balogun's mandatory one-match sanction on a year-long probationary basis, enabling him to compete in the upcoming fixture against Belgium.
The decision prompted public support from US President Trump, who praised FIFA for correcting what he termed an injustice, alongside complaints from US officials and supporters who had viewed the sending off as disproportionate. Belgium's football association expressed surprise at the ruling and contended it violates FIFA's own published tournament guidelines that were confirmed to all participating nations prior to the World Cup, announcing it would explore available responses.
- US striker Balogun's automatic World Cup ban suspended by FIFA despite red card; can play Belgium in round of 16
- Trump publicly thanked FIFA for reversing the suspension; US officials and fans had opposed the red card as excessive
- Belgium's football association contests the decision as contradicting FIFA's own tournament regulations