World Cup 2026: 'A sense of injustice' - Belgium say Trump move fired them up

World Cup 2026: Belgium Defeat United States 4-1 After FIFA Suspends Balogun Ban

Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his team felt a "sense of injustice" over United States striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban being suspended by Fifa shortly before their World Cup last-16 match. Balogun, 25, appeared certain to miss the tie in Seattle after being shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic in the previous round.

On Sunday Fifa suspended the automatic one-match ban for 12 months. The decision drew criticism from Uefa, Belgium and England head coach Thomas Tuchel. On Monday US President Donald Trump said he had asked Fifa to review Balogun's ban, which he said would have left a "big stain" on the tournament. Despite the suspension, Belgium defeated the co-hosts 4-1.

"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," said Belgium and Rangers midfielder Raskin. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field." Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said the team focused on its response during the match. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did," he said.

After Belgium scored their fourth goal, several players were pictured dancing in a style similar to the 'Trump dance' that gained attention during the 2024 US presidential campaign. The official Instagram account for the Belgium national team posted a picture of striker Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption "overturn this".

Trump stated that football's world governing body "made the right decision". Speaking at the White House on Monday, he said he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he "didn't think it was a foul". He confirmed he had spoken to Fifa president Gianni Infantino but added that he only requested a review and did not instruct the organisation to suspend the ban. Trump said: "I think it [the suspension] would have left a big stain. I can't tell them what to do. I don't believe they made the decision; I believe it was the commission that made the decision. And it was the right decision."

Before the match the Royal Belgian Football Association said it was "astonished" by the suspension and informed the United States Soccer Federation that it "contests the eligibility" of Balogun playing in the tie. The RBFA appealed the decision, but a Fifa committee ruled that Belgium were not an interested party because they were not involved in the original disciplinary case and were only the United States' next opponents.

England head coach Tuchel said the ruling set a dangerous precedent. Uefa said intervening to cancel a suspension at a tournament "crossed a red line". England defender Jarell Quansah was sent off in his side's 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16. "Where to draw the line is the question that I ask," said Tuchel. "I have no answer to that."

Of the 189 other red cards at the World Cup, only once has a player escaped a suspension. That was Brazil's Garrincha in 1962, before automatic bans were in place. Balogun started the match against Belgium and played the full 90 minutes.