• Belgium's football federation files formal challenge against FIFA's decision to allow U.S. forward Folarin Balogun to play in a World Cup match.
  • The dispute centers on eligibility rules and prior national team affiliations.
  • U.S. Soccer Federation stands by FIFA's ruling, while Balogun's availability for the match remains uncertain pending appeal.

Eligibility Dispute

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has formally challenged FIFA's decision to permit United States forward Folarin Balogun to participate in an upcoming World Cup match, according to people familiar with the matter. The federation argues that Balogun's previous appearances for England's youth teams should affect his eligibility to switch allegiance, despite FIFA's approval.

Balogun, who was born in New York and raised in England, represented England at various youth levels before FIFA granted him a one-time change of association to play for the U.S. senior team in 2023. The decision has been a point of contention for Belgium, which faced the U.S. in a recent friendly and is set to meet them again in the World Cup group stage.

Grounds for Challenge

The RBFA's challenge alleges that FIFA misinterpreted its statutes regarding changes of nationality for players who have represented a country in competitive youth matches. In a statement, the federation said it “respects FIFA's authority but believes the decision does not fully align with the spirit of the regulations,” and is seeking a review of the case. A FIFA spokesperson declined to comment, citing ongoing proceedings.

Reactions

The U.S. Soccer Federation expressed confidence in the original ruling, calling it “thorough and in accordance with FIFA's rules.” A source close to the team said Balogun remains focused on training, though his participation in the match could be delayed if the challenge progresses.

Attempts to reach Balogun's representatives were not immediately successful. The timeline for FIFA's response to Belgium's challenge remains unclear, but a decision could come within days given the proximity to the match.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of Balogun's switch. It was 2023, not 2024.