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FIFA live: Could USA be kicked out of World Cup over red card saga?
SEN • July 7th, 2026 8:13 am
- Spain 0-0 Portugal LIVE
- USA v Belgium
World Cup daily news. We will bring you the latest from around the world as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ finally gets under way (All times AEST).
COULD AMERICA BE KICKED OUT?
FIFA has rejected Belgium's appeal to overturn Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card bring suspended amid fears the European side made bid to have the co-hosts kicked out of the World Cup.
The decision to allow the USA star to play in today's knock-our clash has left governing bodies around the world stunned and horrified by the “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision”.
Belgium have now said they are open to "all other actions".
This may include an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if the USA fields an "ineligible player" and could see any result from this morning's clash reversed.
With Donald Trump thanking FIFA for their action, the optics are that FIFA has bowed to political pressure.
Their decision to suspend the mandatory one match ban was slammed by UEFA: “Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line.
“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition.
“Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not. A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.
“It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions, let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension.
“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined.
“Equally, such decision creates a precedent in the ongoing tournament, where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition."
According to reports out of Europe, Belgium is yet to be given any explanation about FIFA's decision while the governing body has told the team they have no grounds to appeal because they were not part of the original decision.
“To date, the Royal Belgian FA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure," a statement said.
“Fifa has yet to provide us with a copy of the decision and the motivation declaring the player eligible as well as the referee’s report – this is a breach of Fifa regulations.
“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.
“The RBFA has informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet.
“This leaves all further actions open.”
