Following July 1’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, United States supporters were celebrating deep into the night with their first World Cup knockout win since 2002. But it was a bittersweet moment, as star striker Folarin Balogun left the win with a red card, meaning he’d be suspended for the Round of 16 match vs. Belgium.
On Sunday afternoon, FIFA announced the decision to lift Balogun’s red card suspension for a one-year probationary period. Following the news, the USMNT’s top scorer with 3 goals is now expected to play in the World Cup Round of 16 match vs. Belgium kicking off tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
According to PrizePicks Team Picks, the USA now firmly sits as the favorite with a 1.75x payout to advance compared to Belgium’s 2x payout.
After Belgium was granted the right to appeal FIFA’s decision, the appeal was officially denied Monday afternoon. Balogun will play in the World Cup Round of 16 USA vs. Belgium match.
Let’s look at the latest news surrounding the Folarin Balogun red card suspension and how his presence could impact United States vs. Belgium picks for PrizePicks.
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Folarin Balogun Red Card: Is Balogun Playing Tonight vs. Belgium in World Cup Round of 16?
As mentioned, Balogun is expected to suit up for the United States’ massive clash with Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday night.
Following FIFA’s decision to shift Balogun’s one-match suspension for a one-year probationary period, PrizePicks is celebrating with a Folarin Balogun Max Discount for the United States vs. Belgium!
PrizePicks has lowered Balogun’s passes attempted projection from 12.5 to only 0.5 for the match vs. Belgium. That means Flo needs only 1 pass attempt for the More to hit!
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Balogun is expected to play tonight, but the drama is far from over. Frankly, this is an unprecedented decision from FIFA. His red card was not changed to a yellow card, which many believe should have been the decision.
Instead, FIFA has doubled down on the decision of the red card, shifting the consequence for Balogun’s action. This comes after many suggested VAR protocols were not properly followed when Balogun’s tackle was reviewed.
The decision has been met with much criticism, opening the window for Belgium to appeal the banned suspension.
Lock in your United States vs. Belgium prediction on PrizePicks before 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff!
Belgium Granted Right to Appeal Balogun Suspension Ban
This situation has become messy as “Love Island,” with soccer fans across the world protesting the decision to lift Balogun’s suspension. United States President Donald Trump’s involvement with FIFA is not helping either, leading to soccer fans labeling the overturned suspension as FIFA corruption.
The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) released a statement on Sunday, stating it was “astonished” by FIFA’s decision.
News then broke Monday morning that FIFA gave Belgium until 8:00 a.m. ET for the chance to appeal overturning Balogun’s suspension. The Belgians did just that, which made this a waiting game with tonight’s match only hours away.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has since released a statement, explaining the process of overturning Balogun’s red card suspension — perhaps pushing back at those corruption claims.
The door was open for FIFA to overturn the decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension. How ridiculous did that sound? If anything, we have learned once again FIFA should address some of its processes.
Despite Belgium's efforts to overturn the decision, FIFA denied the appeal, making Balogun officially available tonight.
He’s the Stars and Stripes top scorer with 3 goals, changing the outlook of the Round of 16 match.
How Balogun Suspension Ban Impacts USA vs. Belgium Picks for PrizePicks
The lifted suspension led to the Folarin Balogun Max Discount on PrizePicks, dropping his standard 12.5 pass attempts projection to only 0.5.
Over three matches at World Cup 2026, Balogun has posted 12.3 pass attempts per match, including 8 pass attempts over 64 minutes in the Round of 32 — via Opta Analyst.
Click here or head to the World Cup board in the PrizePicks app to claim the Max Discount on the Explore tab. Then pick More on Balogun's 0.5 pass attempts and complete your Lineup with at least one additional pick.
In addition to the Balogun Max Discount, his shot projection on PrizePicks catches the eye.
United States ST Folarin Balogun Pick vs. Belgium – 3 Shots
- According to FotMob, Balogun has tallied 1.2 goals (90th percentile), 1.6 shots on target (79th percentile), and 4.4 shots per 90 (93rd percentile) at World Cup 2026.
- He’s reached 4 shots in two of three appearances, including 4 shots in only 64 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Flo’s 9.2 touches in the box per 90 (97th percentile) have led to plenty of shot chances, and Belgium just allowed 30 touches in the box in their 3-2 win over Senegal in the Round of 32.
- Belgium’s defense has been shaky at times, conceding 5.5 expected goals (xG) thus far (32nd).
- The possession battle should be key tonight, as Belgium has a 57.6% average possession (12th) compared to the USMNT’s 57.1% (14th). If the USA can control possession, that should mean more opportunities for Balogun.
Combine United States to Win + Folarin Balogun picks on PrizePicks
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Make USMNT vs. Belgium World Cup Picks on PrizePicks
The United States’ top goalscorer, Folarin Balogun, will play in the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle. The decision may mean drama up until the final moments before kickoff, adding even more anticipation for Monday night’s USA vs. Belgium match.
Don’t wait until lock — make your United States vs. Belgium picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right on every World Cup game.
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