USA Favored Over Belgium Following Balogun World Cup Suspension Reversal
Ethan Moore 
Key Takeaways:
- FIFA overturned Folarin Balogun's red card, making him eligible to play against Belgium.
- FanDuel Sportsbook lists the USA as -118 betting favorites to advance to the quarterfinals.
- The United States is seeking its first World Cup quarterfinal appearance since 2002.
The United States men's national team is favored to defeat Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup following a major ruling by FIFA. On Sunday, FIFA announced it overruled the red card given to star forward Folarin Balogun, lifting his suspension. This decision clears the striker to take the field in Monday's critical knockout stage match.
Updated World Cup Betting Odds
With Balogun back in the lineup, FanDuel Sportsbook shifted the World Cup betting odds in favor of the Americans reaching the quarterfinals. As of July 5, the USA sits at -118 to advance, while Belgium is listed at -104. On the three-way moneyline, the United States is priced at +150, with Belgium at +180 and a draw set at +230.
Bettors can also wager on the exact stage of elimination for the United States, a popular futures option similar to those found in Copa América betting odds. FanDuel offers -130 odds for a Round of 16 exit and +185 for a quarterfinal elimination. Further tournament progression shows +650 odds for a semifinal exit, +2200 for a runner-up finish, and +3000 for the United States to win the tournament as outright winners.
Historic Run for the United States
Balogun originally received the red card during the second half of the USA's 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. That result marked a historic milestone, representing the first time in U.S. history the team secured three match wins at a single World Cup. It was also just the nation's second-ever knockout stage victory at the men's tournament.
The Monday showdown against Belgium presents an opportunity for the United States to match its best result of the century. The only previous knockout win came against Mexico in the 2002 Round of 16, which is also the last time the Americans reached the tournament quarterfinals. Recent World Cup appearances saw the USA eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2022, 2014, and 2010, while the team failed to qualify entirely for the 2018 tournament, shifting American sports betting action toward events like the MLB World Series markets during that summer.
