Folarin Balogun became just the second player in World Cup history to avoid serving a suspension after being sent off. The first came 64 years earlier, when Brazil legend Garrincha benefited from one of the tournament's most controversial disciplinary decisions.

A World Cup red card hasn't been rescinded since 1962. That changed with United States men's national team star Folarin Balogun on Sunday.

At the 1962 World Cup, FIFA gave Brazil's Garrincha a red card reprieve. That took diplomatic intervention, alleged bribery and a witness vanishing like Agatha Christie.

United States striker Folarin Balogun was given a red card at the World Cup, and he won't have to serve the suspension at this tournament. FIFA installed a one-year probationary period for Balogun, and conceptually he could have to serve some kind of punishment after that.

No country has played more World Cup games than the Seleção. Find out the other records the Brazilians hold at the global showpiece. Brazil and the FIFA World Cup™ are closely intertwined, so much so,

The reversal of Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension is highly unusual. It was the first time since 1962 that FIFA has nullified a suspension for a red card received during the World Cup.

In pushing Fifa to reverse Folarin Balogun’s suspension, Donald Trump did the most American thing possible: assert unasked-for power to get his way