Folarin Balogun will be available for the United States when they face Belgium on Monday — but the manner in which FIFA cleared him to play has raised serious questions about the integrity of the tournament's disciplinary process.

Balogun had been set to serve a suspension after accumulating bookings during the group stage. FIFA, however, reversed course in circumstances that have left administrators, journalists, and supporters deeply uncomfortable. The governing body offered no clear, consistent explanation for the decision, fuelling accusations of selective enforcement.

A U-turn without a convincing explanation

Suspensions in football exist for a reason: to ensure that the consequences of indiscipline are applied uniformly, regardless of the size or profile of the nation involved. When FIFA appears to bend those rules for a host-adjacent team competing in its own showcase tournament, the message it sends to the rest of the world is corrosive.

The United States are one of the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, and commercial interests in the North American market are enormous. Whether or not those interests influenced this decision, the perception that they might is damaging enough on its own.

Why this hurts even the USMNT

There is an argument — and it is a compelling one — that the United States themselves are not truly served by this outcome. Winning with a full-strength squad, after benefiting from what critics are calling a regulatory favour, will cast a shadow over any result they achieve against Belgium. Should they progress, that shadow will only lengthen.

Balogun is a talented forward who has earned his place in the squad on merit. He deserves to compete in circumstances where his contributions are celebrated without an asterisk. FIFA's decision, however well-intentioned, has denied him that.

The bigger picture for world football

This episode also matters beyond one match. The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on the planet, and its credibility rests on the belief that every team is subject to the same rules. African nations, Asian sides, and smaller football federations have long raised concerns about unequal treatment at FIFA tournaments. Incidents like this do nothing to address those concerns — they amplify them.

FIFA must provide a transparent, detailed account of how and why this decision was reached. Without that, the suspicion that some teams are more equal than others will continue to grow — and no result on the pitch can undo the damage done off it.