Read, Watch or Listen

Santa Clara, California, will not see Folarin Balogun in the United States Men’s National Team lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium after the starting striker received an automatic one-match suspension for a straight red card. Balogun was sent off in the 64th minute of the United States’ 2-0 group-stage win over Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara, following a VAR-initiated review of his challenge on defender Tarik Muharemovic. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue, but after VAR official Juan Soto advised an on-field review, replays showed Balogun’s studs making contact with the back of Muharemovic’s leg and ankle, and Claus upgraded the incident to a straight red, reducing the United States to 10 men. The dismissal came after Balogun had opened the scoring in the first half with his third goal in four tournament matches, continuing his role as the team’s leading scorer in this World Cup cycle. Santa Clara, California, also served as the backdrop for post-match controversy, as United States manager Mauricio Pochettino publicly questioned the red card and indicated he wanted to challenge the decision, only to be constrained by FIFA’s disciplinary framework. Under Article 10, Section 6 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, players sent off with a direct or indirect red card receive an automatic suspension for the following match, and member associations cannot appeal bans resulting from on-field referee decisions or VAR-reviewed incidents. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will review the foul to determine whether to extend the suspension beyond one game, while former FIFA referee and FOX Sports analyst Mark Clattenburg argued on air that the play was accidental and did not meet the threshold of excessive force or endangering an opponent. Balogun becomes the fifth U.S. men’s player to receive a World Cup red card and the first player since France’s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final to both score and be sent off in a World Cup knockout match, leaving Pochettino to weigh options such as starting Ricardo Pepi or moving Christian Pulisic centrally, with a possible starting role for Timothy Weah on the wing, as the United States prepares for Belgium after securing its first World Cup knockout win since 2002 through Malik Tillman’s late free-kick goal.

By Daniel Hayes | JQJO News