Mauricio Pochettino put Folarin Balogun in the starting lineup for the United States in its round-of-16 match with Belgium in the FIFA World Cup on Monday in Seattle.
Balogun initially was set to miss the game after receiving a red card following a VAR review in the USMNT's win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32. However, on Sunday, FIFA suspended the red card for Balogun, placing him on a one-year probation instead and making him available to face Belgium.
On Monday, Pochettino picked Balogun in his starting XI, naming the same lineup the U.S. fielded in its previous win as the Americans looked to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup for the first time since 2002.
"To have all the players available always is a good news," Pochettino said during a pregame interview on TV. "To have the possibility to have Balo again with us and being available is important for the team.
"He scored three goals and I think he is doing a fantastic job."
On the Belgium side, manager Rudi Garcia surprisingly left out star players Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne in his starting lineup. The two had featured prominently during Belgium's World Cup run, except for the one game Doku missed due to the birth of his son.
The drama surrounding Balogun and his red card has dominated World Cup headlines over the past 48 hours.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed reports from a day earlier that he had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for details about the suspension and whether the decision could be reviewed.
Belgium's federation and Europe's soccer governing body, UEFA, were among the most vocal critics of the decision to suspend Balogun's ban and allow him to play.
"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]," Belgium's FA said in a statement Sunday.
On Monday, Infantino issued a statement defending the decision by an independent FIFA panel.
"FIFA's judicial bodies are independent," Infantino said in the statement. "They operate autonomously, apply the FIFA Disciplinary Code, and decide cases based on the applicable regulations and the specific facts before them. Their independence is essential to the credibility and integrity of football, and this must always be respected."
After the news broke Sunday, Pochettino talked about how the situation unfolded over the past few days, and said he was not involved as he was focused on preparing the team for the Belgium game.
"I wasn't involved," Pochettino said. "I was focusing on trying to prepare the team to face 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 on Wednesday. But he was then sent off in the 64th minute for what was deemed a bad challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic.
On Friday, Balogun said he felt the decision was unfair given that he and Muharemovic were battling for position.
In November, FIFA 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.
Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuador 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.
The U.S. is seeking to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ESPN writer Jeff Carlisle also contributed.
