The United States booked their place in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were tempered by a major setback as main striker Folarin Balogun was sent off during the second half.The red card means Mauricio Pochettino’s side will now be without one of their most influential strikers for the knockout clash against Belgium on July 6 – unless a successful appeal overturns the suspension.
Balogun was sent off after a VAR review
Balogun put the United States ahead just before halftime with his third goal of the tournament before his night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute.The attacker challenged Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović for the ball and accidentally stepped on the opponent’s ankle. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue before reviewing the incident on a pitchside monitor. After a VAR check, Claus upgraded the decision to a straight red card.The sending off forced the Americans to play the rest of the game with 10 men, although Malik Tillman later sealed a famous 2-0 win with a stunning free kick.Balogun’s goal was his third of the tournament, tying him with Landon Donovan from the 2010 World Cup and leaving him just one behind Bert Patenaude’s record of four goals by an American in one men’s World Cup, set in 1930.
Will Balogun play against Belgium?
According to FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, a player shown a straight red card is automatically suspended for his team’s next game. As things stand, that means Balogun will miss the United States’ Round of 16 meeting with Belgium.However, there is a small possibility that the attacker would still show up.After the match, the U.S. Soccer Federation can appeal to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee to have the suspension overturned. If FIFA determines that the suspension was incorrect or requires reconsideration, the automatic one-match ban could be overturned.If the appeal fails, Balogun will watch from the sidelines as the United States chase just its third World Cup knockout victory.The striker was one of the best players of the tournament before his dismissal. In addition to scoring, he had another attempt ruled out for offside and repeatedly disturbed the Bosnian defense with his movements.Balogun also paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James by celebrating with the iconic “Silencer” gesture after hitting the net. James later acknowledged the celebration on social media.The red card was just the fifth for an American player at the men’s World Cup, adding another dramatic chapter to an eventful night that ultimately ended with the Americans reaching the round of 16 despite playing more than 25 minutes with a man down.
