The United States booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were curtailed by a heavy defeat as star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off in the second half.The red card means Mauricio Pochettino’s team will be without one of their most influential attackers 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 gave the United States the lead before halftime with his third goal of the tournament before his night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute.The striker challenged Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic for the ball and accidentally stepped on his opponent’s ankle. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue before reviewing the incident on a pitchside monitor. After a VAR review, Claus improved the decision with a straight red card.The dismissal forced the Americans to play the rest of the match with 10 men, although Malik Tillman later sealed a famous 2-0 victory with a spectacular free-kick.The goal was Balogun’s third of the tournament, tying him with Landon Donovan’s tally from the 2010 World Cup and leaving him just one behind Bert Patenaude’s record of four goals by an American in a single men’s World Cup, set in 1930.
Can Balogun play against Belgium?
Under FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, a player shown a straight red card is automatically suspended for his team’s next match. As it stands, that means Balogun will miss the United States’ Round of 16 meeting with Belgium.However, there remains a slight possibility that the striker could still feature.After the match, the US Soccer Federation can submit an appeal to FIFA’s disciplinary committee seeking to overturn the suspension. If FIFA determines that the dismissal is incorrect or needs to be reconsidered, the automatic one-match ban may be overturned.If the appeal fails, Balogun will watch from the sidelines as the United States chases just its third World Cup knockout victory.The striker was one of the standout performers of the tournament before he was sent off. Apart from scoring, he had another effort ruled out for offside and repeatedly troubled the Bosnian defense with his movements.Balogun also paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James by celebrating the iconic “Silencer” move after finding the net. Later, James acknowledged the celebration on social media.The red card was only the fifth received by a US player in a men’s World Cup, adding a dramatic chapter to a sad night that ultimately ended with the Americans reaching the Round of 16 despite playing more than 25 minutes a man.