A major controversy has erupted within the Belgian camp ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 World Cup knockout match against the United States. The uproar follows a stunning regulatory reversal by FIFA, which decided to overturn a match suspension initially handed to American forward Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnie-Herzégovine.
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Subscribe Sekarang →According to a report by lequipe.fr, Belgium manager Rudi Garcia did not hold back his dissatisfaction during a pre-match press conference. When questioned about the sudden availability of the American striker, Garcia responded with heavy irony, stating, "I did not know that in the offices of FIFA, July 5th corresponded to April 1st in Europe. It was a discovery for me."
The tactical mastermind firmly backed the stance of his own football association, noting that the Belgian federation is fighting for the broader values of the sport rather than just its own self-interest. "The Belgian federation is not defending itself, it is not defending the national team, it is defending football in general, its integrity, and its ethics," Garcia asserted, adding that to his recollection, this is the first time in World Cup history that such a decision has been made.
Despite the clear irritation surrounding the ruling, Rudi Garcia emphasized that his tactical approach for the upcoming round remains completely unaffected. From editorial monitoring of the press briefing, the manager insisted there is "zero percent chance" of this news altering his strategy, emphasizing that his sole concentration is on his players, the pitch, and securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
Sitting alongside his manager, veteran goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois shared a similar sentiment of focus, although he acknowledged the unexpected timing of the announcement. "For us players, it is not important," Courtois remarked, while admitting he was surprised the verdict came just a day before kickoff. The Real Madrid shot-stopper noted that while Balogun offers a distinct, high-speed profile compared to other forwards, the squad is thoroughly prepared to neutralize the entire American frontline, including the threats posed by Dest and Pulisic.