Balogun’s World Cup Rollercoaster: Goal, Red Card, and the Fallout That Has USMNT Fans Fuming
In the span of 64 minutes, Folarin Balogun experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He put the United States ahead against Bosnia-Herzegovina with his third goal of the 2026 World Cup. Then, in a moment that has ignited fury across the soccer world, he was shown a straight red card that will keep him out of Monday’s Round of 16 clash against Belgium.
The incident occurred in the second half when Balogun, challenging for a ball down the left channel, accidentally stepped on the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus initially didn’t signal a card. But after a VAR review—and a super slow-motion replay—he marched to the monitor and brandished red.
The decision left players, coaches, and fans stunned. No Bosnian players had even appealed for a card.
‘Never a red card’
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino did not hold back in his post-match press conference.
“For me? Never a red card,” Pochettino said emphatically. “Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident”.
“If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand,” Pochettino continued. “But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land”.
Pochettino also drew a comparison to a similar incident involving Lionel Messi in Argentina’s group-stage opener against Algeria. Messi caught an Algerian defender’s ankle with a trailing-leg challenge—and received no card and no VAR review. “For me, neither are red cards,” Pochettino said.
No appeal, no mercy
The cruelest part? There’s nothing the US can do about it.
The automatic one-game suspension for a straight red card cannot be appealed under FIFA regulations. A US Soccer spokesperson confirmed to The Guardian that the team can only appeal if FIFA’s disciplinary committee adds additional games to the suspension—but they cannot appeal the one-game ban itself.
Balogun will watch Monday’s match against Belgium from the stands, not even from the bench.
A historic—and painful—milestone
The red card put Balogun in an exclusive and unwanted club. He became just the fourth player in World Cup history to both score and be sent off in a knockout match, joining Brazil’s Garrincha (1962 semifinal), Ronaldinho (2002 quarterfinal against England), and France’s Zinedine Zidane (2006 final against Italy).
He also received the Americans’ fifth World Cup red card, following Eric Wynalda (1990), Fernando Clavijo (1994), and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope (2006).
Can the US survive without him?
Balogun has been the US’s attacking heartbeat, scoring three goals in the tournament—matching Landon Donovan’s 2010 tally and sitting just two behind Bert Patenaude’s all-time US record of four from 1930.
Without him against Belgium, the burden falls on Ricardo Pepi. The PSV striker is the most likely replacement, but he hasn’t scored in his 184 minutes on the pitch this tournament—nor in four friendly games beforehand. His last international goal came in November 2024.
“We told him we’ve got his back,” defender Chris Richards said. “We’re a team of 26, not just one. One man’s down, the next guy steps up”.
Class amid controversy
Despite the gut-wrenching decision, Balogun showed remarkable composure. Rather than arguing with officials, he returned to the pitch after the match and shook hands with every referee, including Claus—the man who sent him off.
Fans on X praised his sportsmanship: “He’s a bigger man than me,” one wrote.
Former England forward Sue Smith believes the red card may have even galvanized the US, forcing them to dig deep and showcase a resilience that bodes well for the Belgium clash.
What’s next?
The US advanced 2-0 over Bosnia, with Malik Tillman’s late free-kick sealing the victory despite playing a man short for the final 25 minutes. They now face Belgium—who came back from 2-0 down to beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time—for a place in the quarterfinals.
The question haunting every USMNT fan is simple but agonizing: What if?
What if Balogun had stayed on the pitch? What if VAR had seen what everyone else saw—an accidental collision, not a malicious stomp?
Pochettino put it best: “He’s very disappointed and he’s sad. It wasn’t his intention. We can do nothing to change that feeling. This is soccer, this is football”.
But one thing is certain: the debate over this red card will rage long after the final whistle blows in Seattle. And if the US falls short against Belgium, this moment—this single, controversial, VAR-fueled decision—will be remembered as the turning point that changed everything.
