The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) will compete in the World Cup quarterfinals after securing a victory against Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 6. The match, held at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, kicked off at 8 p.m. ET.
In a significant turn of events, Folarin Balogun was made available to play despite a prior red card. FIFA rescinded the suspension, citing Article 27 of its disciplinary code, a precedent previously used to defer Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension. The Royal Belgian Football Association's attempt to appeal this decision was deemed inadmissible by FIFA.
This development prompted a call from former President Donald Trump to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the red card decision.
The winner of the USMNT-Belgium match advances to face the winner of the Portugal vs. Spain game on July 10. A win for the USMNT would mark their second-ever appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals.
The USMNT's path to the Round of 16 included victories against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), and a loss to Turkey (3-2) in the group stage. They then defeated Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32.
Belgium's World Cup campaign included a 1-1 draw against Egypt, a 0-0 draw with Iran, a 5-0 win over New Zealand in group play, and a 3-1 victory against Senegal in the Round of 32.
Fans were able to stream the match live through services offering a free trial, such as DIRECTV, which included FOX and Telemundo in its Choice plan.