FIFA reversed Folarin Balogun’s one-game World Cup suspension, clearing him to play for the United States against Belgium. It was a highly unusual move, with reports noting it was the first time since 1962 that FIFA had nullified a suspension like this.

What changed

  • Balogun’s red-card ban was suspended, so he is now eligible for the next match.
  • The decision came after a review requested by President Trump, according to multiple reports.
  • The reversal gave the U.S. team a major boost because Balogun is one of their top scorers.

Why it matters

The timing was especially dramatic because the team had already prepared as if he would be out. Belgium reportedly reacted by looking into possible responses, which shows how unusual the ruling was.

In plain English

FIFA did not reverse a tournament result or a rule overall; it reversed Balogun’s individual punishment for a red card. That means the headline is really about one player’s suspension being lifted, not about FIFA changing the World Cup format or eligibility rules more broadly.