Why the USMNT can’t appeal Folarin Balogun’s red card

The United States is moving on to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Wednesday night’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina booked a spot in the next stage for the United States, and was a tale of two different matches. At times the United States was creative, explosive, and dangerous on the attack, and at others the players on the pitch, in the parlance of the game, suffered for the win.

The dividing marker between those two matches? The red card shown to Folarin Balogun in the 64th minute of the match.

It was Balogun’s effort over the first 60 minutes of the match that, in part, made the United States so dangerous. The forward had one goal taken off the board due to an offside call, broke through with his third goal of this World Cup in the 45th minute, and nearly added a second moments later when his effort clattered off the crossbar.

The goal, in particular, highlighted what this version of the U.S. men’s national team has become, starting with a lovely early touch from defender Tim Ream, a creative play in the midfield from Tyler Adams, a beautiful ball forward from Malik Tillman, and then the effort and finish from Balogun to give the United States the lead:

No, this is not the USMNT of yesteryear, not by a long shot.

But then came this moment in the second half, an awkward collision between Balogun and Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović that sent both players crashing to the turf, and the defender reaching for his ankle:

After VAR recommended a review on the pitch, referee Rafael Claus rendered a decision that will be debated for days, if not longer. Balogun was shown a red card, and the United States played the rest of the way with just 10 men on the pitch.

Granted, that is when the resolve from this group of players came into focus. Despite playing a man down, it never felt like the USMNT was truly under threat, and a brilliant free kick from Tillman in the 82nd minute doubled their advantage:

But now, with a match against Belgium on the horizon in the Round of 16, many are wondering if Balogun’s red card — and one-match ban — can be appealed.

In a word, no.

The FIFA Regulations, 98 pages in length that cover everything from marketing regulations to ticketing, govern disciplinary matters as well. According to Article 9.6 of those regulations, “[n]o protests may be made about the referee’s decisions regarding facts connected with play. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal, unless otherwise stipulated in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.” (Emphasis added).

A few paragraphs later the regulations state that “[i]f 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.”

In addition, Article 66.4 reads “[a] sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures.”

As such, Balogun’s red card — and subsequent one-match ban — cannot be appealed.

What could be appealed, however, is any additional penalty. As noted in the above-quoted sections FIFA may impose further sanctions. Take, for example, the incident in the Canada-Qatar match during group play. Assim Madibo was shown a red card for a challenge on Ismaël Koné that broke the Canadian player’s leg. After the FIFA disciplinary committee reviewed the play following the match, that body determined that it merited an additional suspension, and Madibo was handed a five-match ban.

That five-match ban can be appealed, but the initial red card (and one-match ban) cannot.

So if the FIFA disciplinary committee decides that Balogun’s challenge is worthy of any additional penalty, that could be appealed. The odds of that happening are unlikely, according to FOX Sports analyst and former FIFA referee Mark Clattenburg.

“FIFA disciplinary will look at this challenge [Thursday], and if they deem this a dangerous challenge which could have endangered the safety of this opponent, they can upgrade it,” Clattenburg said on FOX Sports following the match. “I doubt it, in my opinion, because I believe that this was an accident, and they believe it was worthy of a red card. And that’s where they steer the red card. It should not be upgraded.”

But as it stands, the USMNT will be without Balogun in the Round of 16 against Belgium.