The United States earned a spot in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were significantly setback when star forward Folarin Balogun was sent off in the second half.The red card means Mauricio Pochettino’s side will now be without one of their most influential attackers in the knockout round against Belgium on July 6 – unless the suspension is successfully overturned on appeal.
Balogun sent off after VAR review
Balogun scored his third goal of the World Cup just before half-time to give the United States the lead, but his night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute.The forward challenged Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic for the ball and accidentally stepped on his opponent’s ankle. Referee Raphael Kraus initially allowed play to continue before viewing the incident on a pitchside monitor. After a VAR check, Krause upgraded the penalty to a direct red card.The expulsion forced the United States to play the remainder of the match with 10 men, although Malik Tillman later sealed the famous 2-0 victory with a stunning free kick.It was Balogun’s third goal of the tournament, tying Landon Donovan’s record for most goals at the 2010 World Cup and trailing only Bert Patenaude’s 1930 record of four goals by an American in a single men’s World Cup.
Will Balogun play against Belgium?
According to FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, a player who is sent off with a direct red card will be automatically suspended from participating in the team’s next game. As things stand, this means Balogun will miss the United States’ round of 16 match against Belgium.However, the chances of the striker still playing remain slim.After the game, U.S. Soccer can appeal to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to seek to overturn the ban. The automatic one-match ban may be revoked if FIFA determines that the dismissal is incorrect or needs to be reconsidered.If the appeal fails, Balogun will watch from the sidelines as the United States chase their third World Cup knockout victory.The striker was one of the standout performers in the tournament before being sacked. In addition to scoring, he also had another shot ruled offside and repeatedly caused trouble for the Bosnian defense with his movement.Balogun also paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James by celebrating with his signature “silencer” gesture after scoring a goal. James later celebrated the celebration on social media.The red card was only the fifth a U.S. player had received at the Men’s World Cup, adding another dramatic chapter to an eventful night that ended with the U.S. trailing by more than 25 minutes to advance to the round of 16.
