parks
Balogun starts for US against Belgium after suspension lifted following call by Trump to FIFA
By Ronald Blum, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 6, 2026
· 2 min read
Folarin Balogun was in the United States' starting lineup for Monday's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after his red-card suspension was lifted by FIFA in a decision that sparked an uproar across the sport.Balogun’s red card was assessed by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping...
Key takeaway Balogun’s red card was assessed by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping on an opponent’s ankle last Wednesday during the Americans’ 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.
Why this matters in The Pearland
The controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's suspension and its subsequent lifting by FIFA has sparked intense debate, but for Pearland residents, the focus is on the US team's chances of advancing in the World Cup. With Balogun back in the starting lineup, the Americans have a stronger shot at beating Belgium and moving on to the semifinals. This could be a significant moment for local soccer fans, who have been waiting for the US team to make a deep run in the tournament. If the US wins, they will face Spain on Friday, and a victory would put them in the semifinals for the first time since 1930. For Pearland's soccer community, a US win would be a major boost, potentially inspiring local youth players and generating excitement for the sport in the area. The city's residents will be watching closely to see how the team performs.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 6, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Folarin Balogun was in the United States' starting lineup for Monday's World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium after his red-card suspension was lifted by FIFA in a decision that sparked an uproar across the sport.Balogun’s red card was assessed by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for stepping...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 6, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Ronald Blum, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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