Folarin Balogun scandal made everyone support us, says Belgium’s Thomas Meunier
Belgium defender Thomas Meunier claims FIFA's controversial decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play despite a suspension led other teams to support Belgium against the USA.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Sandro Halank , Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Meunier, a member of the Belgium squad at the 2026 World Cup, has opened up about the controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play in the last-16 tie against Belgium. Despite receiving a red card in the United States’ previous game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Balogun was cleared to play following FIFA's intervention.
Meunier described the incident as a turning point for the tournament's atmosphere. «After that incident, this conflict, everyone wanted us to beat America, because of that situation. Everyone wanted them to be eliminated,» Meunier said. Belgium ultimately knocked the co-hosts out with a 4-1 victory in Seattle.
The experienced international labelled the tournament the «dark side of traditional football,» citing concerns over how financial and political interests influenced sporting decisions. While acknowledging that the U.S. provided excellent infrastructure, Meunier noted that football itself did not seem to be the primary priority during the event.
The Royal Belgian Football Association has since confirmed it no longer supports FIFA President Gianni Infantino and is seeking a formal discussion regarding the Balogun decision at the next FIFA Council meeting in mid-October. «Two months after the events, our questions remain unanswered,» said RBFA president Pascale van Damme.