Also known as: Balo
Player involved in a World Cup suspension row where Norway sought FIFA ethics complaint and Trump intervened, later cleared to play.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Standard
… So he’s on fire and I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.” USA striker Folarin Balogun has made a decent enough start to the tournament himself, with two goals in his first two games. …
Golden Boot: Who will come out on top in race for the ages?The Standard
… Playing slightly wider than usual, star striker Folarin Balogun raced down the left and cut the ball back from the byline.Under pressure from a lurking Pepi, Aussie defender Cameron Burgess steered the ball into his own net. …
USA beat Australia 2-0 to reach World Cup knockoutsCitizen Digital
… The US demolished Paraguay on an electric night in Los Angeles, with Folarin Balogun bagging a brace and Gio Reyna scoring a late stunner, plus an early own goal. …
Pochettino hails entire squad after World Cup opening winCitizen Digital
… Fallon / AFP) Audio By Vocalize The United States could scarcely have scripted a better start to their World Cup as a Folarin Balogun brace and Gio Reyna curler fired the co-hosts to a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay in front of Hollywood royalty in Los Angeles on Friday. …
US beat Paraguay 4-1 in dream start for World Cup co-hostsThe Standard
Audio By Vocalize800 The United States could scarcely have scripted a better start to their World Cup as a Folarin Balogun brace and Gio Reyna curler fired the co-hosts to a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay in front of Hollywood royalty in Los Angeles on Friday.The hosts took the lead in …
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in dream start for World Cup co-hostsThe Standard
… I will never quit." Monaco revived their own European hopes by coming from behind against Metz, with USA star Folarin Balogun scoring a ninth goal in 10 league games to equalise before Ansu Fati's stoppage-time winner. …
PSG fringe team held by Lorient as Bayern Munich return leg loomsUEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he will not challenge FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in Rabat next March, though UEFA is locked in a bitter dispute with FIFA over Infantino's scrapped private investor plan.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says he will not challenge FIFA boss Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in Rabat next March, though UEFA is locked in a bitter dispute with FIFA over Infantino's scrapped private investor plan.
7 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lost the "confidence" of UEFA after his plan to allow private investment in the World Cup was withdrawn following global backlash, marking the first significant threat to his position despite his recent successes with expanded tournaments.
4 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino's position is threatened for the first time following the failure of a private investor plan, despite his recent successes in expanding the Club World Cup and World Cup and delivering increased revenue to FIFA's 211 member associations.
4 August 2026 · The Standard →
Mauricio Pochettino has signed a contract extension to remain head coach of the United States national team until the 2030 World Cup, US Soccer announced. The 54-year-old took over in 2024 and led the USA to the last 16 at the recent World Cup co-hosted with Canada and Mexico.
3 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has responded to World Cup critics in an open letter, claiming they were "spreading hate and false rumours" and arguing the tournament delivered "only joy and happiness" despite controversies over ticket pricing and visa issues.
27 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino dismissed World Cup critics in an open letter, saying they were "spreading hate and false rumours" while the tournament delivered "only joy and happiness" marked by 100% safety and security. The tournament faced pre-competition controversies including high ticket prices, visa issues, and geopolitical tensions across the three host nations.
27 July 2026 · The Standard →
The International Olympic Committee has rejected a complaint filed by human rights NGO FairSquare against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for alleged breaches of rules on political neutrality. The IOC Ethics Commission said the complaint falls outside its jurisdiction, noting that international federations maintain independence in their governance.
25 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Norway's football federation president says she will seek board backing to file a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee over Folarin Balogun's World Cup suspension, calling the incident one that "should not have happened" and saying it has put "the whole game at risk."
23 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
African football chief Patrice Motsepe praised FIFA president Gianni Infantino as a devoted steward of the game and friend of Africa, defending him against criticism over decisions including a suspension delay for a US striker and hydration breaks.
22 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Rudi Garcia has stepped down as Belgium's head coach after the team lost to Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals. Garcia, who took over in January 2025, led Belgium to Nations League A qualification during his 18-month tenure.
20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino at the final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday. Trump previously drew controversy by calling FIFA to request a red card suspension for USA striker Folarin Balogun.
19 July 2026 · The Standard →
Spain face Belgium in a 2026 World Cup quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. A win would set up a semi-final against France in Texas next Tuesday.
10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
European champions Spain play Belgium in a quarter-final at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, with a potential semi-final against France awaiting the winner. Spain have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, while Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 in their last round.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →
The United States, co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. Despite widespread marketing hype and optimism, the analysis suggests the higher-ranked Belgian team was simply the better side on the day.
9 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Lionel Messi's Argentina play Egypt on Tuesday in a World Cup last-16 match, with the winner advancing to face Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals. Argentina are the defending champions while Egypt have never progressed beyond the round of 16.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said his team held a meeting after Folarin Balogun's shock FIFA reprieve and resolved to make a statement on the pitch, which they did by defeating the United States 4-1 at the World Cup on Monday.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said his team held a meeting after Folarin Balogun's FIFA reprieve and were motivated to make a statement on the pitch, which they did in a 4-1 thrashing of the United States at the World Cup. The shock FIFA decision suspending Balogun's one-match ban followed an intervention by US President Donald Trump.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was disappointed by backlash over Folarin Balogun's clearance to play but insisted it was not an excuse for the US's World Cup elimination by Belgium. The US lost 4-1 to Belgium in the round-of-16 after Balogun, who had been cleared by FIFA following a red card appeal, featured in the match.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US coach Mauricio Pochettino said he was disappointed by backlash over Folarin Balogun's eligibility but insisted it was no excuse for the team's 4-1 round-of-16 loss to Belgium, accusing critics of mixing politics with FIFA's decision.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday to advance to the quarter-finals, with Mikel Merino scoring in stoppage time. The victory ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream in his sixth tournament appearance.
7 July 2026 · The Standard →
Belgium defeated the United States 4–1 in a last-16 World Cup match, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice and Romelu Lukaku adding a fourth goal. The victory ended the US's hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years and set up a quarter-final match against Spain.
7 July 2026 · The Standard →
Argentina, the defending champions, meet Egypt in the World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta. Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland are tied on seven goals in the Golden Boot race.
7 July 2026 · The Standard →
Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in a round-of-16 match on Monday, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring in stoppage time. The victory ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup campaign and sends Spain to the quarter-finals, where they will face either the United States or Belgium.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 on Monday to advance to the quarter-finals, with midfielder Mikel Merino scoring the winner in stoppage time. The victory ends Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup campaign, with the Portuguese captain playing in his sixth edition of the tournament.
7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
President Trump confirmed he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review the red card handed to US striker Folarin Balogun, stating he did not think it was a foul and did not request it be overturned, only reviewed.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
US President Donald Trump confirmed he asked FIFA boss Gianni Infantino to review the red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun, saying he did not think it was a foul and characterizing it as two players colliding while running at full speed.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The United States play Belgium on Monday for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals. USA striker Folarin Balogun, who received a straight red card in the previous round, has had his one-game ban suspended after Donald Trump intervened with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
The United States will face Belgium on Monday in a World Cup quarter-final match in Seattle. US striker Folarin Balogun, who had received a straight red card for stepping on an opponent's foot in the previous round and faced a one-game ban under FIFA rules, has had his ban suspended after Donald Trump intervened with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Norway coach Stale Solbakken said FIFA made a "bad decision" by suspending Folarin Balogun's one-match red-card ban from the 2026 World Cup, arguing the suspension should have been enforced and warning it could overshadow the USA's tournament.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Norway coach Stale Solbakken said FIFA's decision to suspend Folarin Balogun's one-match red-card ban was a "big mistake," arguing the U.S. striker should have served the suspension after being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
6 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →