FIFA has overturned the red card issued to American striker Folarin Balogun, suspending the automatic one-match ban that threatened to sideline him for the World Cup round of 16.
The decision by the world governing body converts the suspension into a conditional penalty, allowing Balogun to feature in the upcoming knockout stage clash against Belgium.
The ruling follows a review of the incident during the group stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the US won 2-0.
While Balogun avoids the suspension, the French Football Federation has responded by requesting FIFA to annul a yellow card given to their player Michael Olise during the same fixture, adding a layer of diplomatic friction to the tournament's disciplinary proceedings.
For the US national team, the restoration of Balogun to the squad provides a significant tactical boost ahead of the high-stakes encounter with Belgium.
The Belgian Football Association had previously intervened in the process, but FIFA's final determination prioritizes the conditional nature of the sanction over a straight ban.