FIFA on Sunday suspended the red card U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received in the team's match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, making him available to face Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup.
In a statement on its website, FIFA said: "By operation of Article 27 FDC, the implementation of the automatic match suspension for USA player Folarin Balogun is suspended for a probationary period of one [1] year."
ABC confirmed reports that the White House made a call to FIFA after the U.S. win over Bosnia-Herzegovina last week to ask FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun's red card.
President Donald Trump celebrated the red card reversal shortly after it was announced, posting on his social media network: "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!"
The U.S. plays Belgium on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET in Seattle, seeking to advance to its first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 2002. The Americans lost in the round of 16 to Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022. They failed to advance from the group stage in 2006 and didn't qualify for the 2018 tournament.
A statement by U.S. Soccer 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."
A red card calls for an automatic one-game suspension, but players learned of Balogun's availability when social media posts started popping up during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from their hotel to training at the University of Washington.
"I think a lot of us thought it was AI at first," defender Chris Richards said. "We weren't sure if it was true or not."
Belgium's federation also put out a statement expressing its shock and said it is "investigating all potential options."
"The Royal Belgian Football Association is astonished by FIFA's decision to declare suspended United States player Folarin Balogun eligible to play in the USA-Belgium match on Monday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. [Seattle time]," the statement read.
"FIFA bases its decision on Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. This provision states that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may decide to suspend the enforcement of a previously imposed disciplinary sanction.
"However, Article 66.4 of the same FIFA Disciplinary Code clearly provides that a red card [sending-off] automatically results in a suspension for the team's next match, as has been the case for all previous red cards issued during this FIFA World Cup.
"Furthermore, and irrespective of the above, the decision is in direct contradiction with the provisions of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Competition Regulations, as set out in Article 10.5: 'If a player or team official is sent off as a result of a direct or indirect red card [second caution], they will automatically be suspended from their team's subsequent match. In addition, further sanctions may be imposed.'"
Later on Sunday, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino talked about how the situation unfolded over the past few days, saying he was not involved as he focused on preparing the team for the Belgium game.
"[It was a] normal process and of course the federation for sure was working really hard," Pochettino said. "[U.S. Soccer CEO] J.T. [Batson] and the whole federation were working on trying to defend our situation and that's it.
"I wasn't involved in the. I was focusing on trying to prepare the team to face to Belgium working in different [areas], working in trying to be focused and to play tomorrow with our best, in our best condition."
Balogun scored the U.S.'s opening goal in the 45th minute of its 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday. But he was then sent off in the 64th minute for what was deemed a bad challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.
Pochettino was also asked Sunday if he was in favor of politicians lobbying FIFA over specific decisions and asking them to be reviewed.
"No, we cannot mix that. We cannot mix that," Pochettino said. "[Balogun] is a decision from the FIFA with the evidence that happened before.
"And that for me is very good for football is to celebrate because if some in the next game or the game that they are playing now and something unfair thing happen, you have the possibility to go and to reverse the decision. Decision that came from the VAR, from situation that is slow motion, that never is the reality of what happened on the pitch."
On Friday, Balogun said he felt the decision was unfair given that he and Muharemovic were battling for position.
"If you played the game, you would understand there are scenarios that you simply can't avoid and it has to be taken into context when it's being reviewed," Balogun said.
U.S. Soccer said it will not make Balogun available for comment Sunday, but the Monaco striker posted a picture of himself on social media in front of U.S. fans and overlaid the image with music of Michael Jackson's pop single "Bad."
FIFA said its decision relied on Article 27 of the disciplinary committee rules.
"The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years," the rule states.
FIFA in November deferred the final two games of a three-match ban for Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo for a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play at the start of the World Cup.
Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuadoran midfielder Moisés Caicedo in April had one-game bans deferred for red cards in qualifiers, also allowing them to be available for World Cup openers.
Brazil's Garrincha was ejected from a 1962 semifinal but allowed to play in the final against Chile after political pressure.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle also contributed.
