FIFA have scrapped Folarin Balogun's suspension, handing the United States men's national team their forward back just in time — and prompting a characteristically enthusiastic reaction from President Donald Trump.
Balogun had been facing a ban that would have sidelined him from upcoming USMNT fixtures, but FIFA's decision to cancel it clears the path for the Monaco striker to feature when it matters. With the US hosting the World Cup in 2026, every competitive window between now and then carries weight that previous qualifying cycles simply didn't.
Why this matters for the USMNT
Balogun gives the United States something they've often lacked at forward: a player comfortable holding the ball up, linking play, and finishing in tight spaces. Losing him to suspension — even briefly — would have been a tangible problem, not just a squad rotation headache.
Trump's delight is worth noting politically, but on the football side, it reflects a broader moment for the sport in the US. The 2026 tournament is a genuine nation-builder for American soccer, and any disruption to the national team's preparation gets amplified far beyond what it would elsewhere.
With Balogun now available, expect Mauricio Pochettino to lean on him heavily in the upcoming schedule. The USMNT's attacking options have looked stronger on paper than on the pitch at times — Balogun being fit, eligible, and in form is the kind of convergence that shifts those odds meaningfully.
FIFA's reversal doesn't happen often. When it does, you pay attention to why — and right now, the Americans will just be grateful for the outcome.
