Belgium coach Rudi Garcia drew a comparison to April Fools' Day when discussing FIFA's decision to allow U.S. Men's National Team forward Folarin Balogun to play in the upcoming World Cup match, despite a previous red card suspension. Garcia stated his disbelief during a pre-match press conference on July 5, 2026.
"I didn't know that July 5 was equal to April 1 at FIFA," Garcia said, speaking through an interpreter. He added that while he and his team are focused on the match, the reversal of the suspension was unprecedented in World Cup history.
The Royal Belgian Football Association released a statement expressing its "astonishment" at Balogun's reinstatement and indicated it was investigating all potential options. When asked about the possibility of an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Garcia urged reporters to focus on the upcoming game.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois acknowledged the timing of the decision was a surprise but maintained that it would not significantly alter Belgium's preparation. "Had it been done earlier, we'd have been able to be more mentally prepared, perhaps," Courtois said.
He added that the team prepares for all possible opposing strikers and that Balogun's profile, which he described as "very fast," is different from other U.S. forwards like Ricardo Pepi. Courtois also noted the quality of the U.S. attacking players, including Sergiño Dest and Christian Pulisic, and stated that his team would be ready for any lineup the U.S. presents.
Balogun had been suspended following a red card during a previous match on July 1, 2026, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Despite the controversy, the focus for both teams remained on the tactical preparations for their next encounter.