The United States booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with an emphatic 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were marred by a major setback when star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off in the second half.The red card means Mauricio Pochettino’s side will now be without one of their key attackers for the defeat 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 just before the break with his third goal of the tournament before his night took a dramatic turn in the 64th minute.The striker competed with Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic for the ball and accidentally stepped on his opponent’s leg. Referee Raphael Claus initially allowed play to continue before looking into the incident. After a VAR check, Claus upgraded the decision to a straight red card.The dismissal forced the Americans to play the rest of the game with 10 men, although Malik Tillman later sealed a famous 2-0 victory with a stunning strike.The goal was Balogun’s 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 a men’s World Cup, which was set in 1930.
Will Balogun play against Belgium?
According to FIFA rules, a player who is shown a straight red card is suspended from his team’s next game. As things stand, this means that Balogun will miss the meeting of the United States of 16 with Belgium.However, there is a slim chance that the shooter could have it.After the match, the US Soccer Federation can appeal to FIFA’s decision-making committee to overturn the suspension. If FIFA deems the disqualification was wrongful or forces a reconsideration, the one-match ban can be overturned.If the appeal fails, Balogun will watch as the United States chase their third World Cup victory.The striker was one of the best performers in the game before he was sent off. Apart from scoring, he also tried to stay offside and troubled the Bosnian defense repeatedly with his movement.Balogun also paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James by celebrating with the “Silencer” sign after finding the net. James later acknowledged the celebration on social media.The red card was only the fifth received by an American player at the men’s World Cup, adding another dramatic chapter to a night that saw the Americans reach the Round of 16 despite playing more than 25 minutes.
