The United States received a major boost ahead of its FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium after FIFA suspended Folarin Balogun's one-match ban, making the striker available for Tuesday's knockout fixture.

Following FIFA's decision, US President Donald Trump welcomed the ruling on social media.

"Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP," Trump posted.

Balogun, the Americans' leading scorer at the tournament with three goals, had been handed a red card during the USA's 2-0 Round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina for stepping on the foot of Tarik Muharemovic.

However, FIFA announced on Sunday that the suspension would not be enforced immediately.

“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement.

“If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

The decision means Balogun will be available when the United States takes on Belgium in Seattle, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.

The hosts are aiming to reach the last eight of the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2002. Since then, the U.S. exited in the Round of 16 against Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022, while failing to progress beyond the group stage in 2006 and missing qualification altogether in 2018.