Folarin Balogun will be suspended for the U.S. men's national team's upcoming Round of 16 match after receiving a red card that FIFA regulations do not allow for an appeal. Article 66.4 of FIFA's regulations states that a sending-off automatically results in a suspension for the subsequent match, with FIFA judicial bodies potentially imposing additional suspensions.
Balogun received the red card following a VAR review during the USMNT's 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1, 2026. The collision between Balogun and Bosnia's Tarik Muhamerovic did not initially result in on-field discipline. Midfielder Tyler Adams commented on the rule, suggesting the contact might have warranted a yellow card rather than a red, noting that slowed-down replays can make incidents appear more severe. "I think it's a yellow card. I think when you slow everything down, it's always gonna look worse," Adams said.
With Balogun sidelined, Ricardo Pepi is a likely candidate to start at striker against Belgium. Pepi, who started alongside Balogun against Australia, made a brief appearance in the final minutes of the Bosnia-Herzegovina match. Haji Wright is another option, though he has played minimal minutes since the U.S. roster was finalized in late May. Wright expressed his readiness to step in if called upon, stating, "I'll always be ready for whatever comes."
Coach Mauricio Pochettino might also consider deploying Christian Pulisic in a forward role, an experiment that was unsuccessful in March. Other potential options include Weston McKennie or Gio Reyna, though these tactical shifts would represent a departure from the team's current successful setup. Pepi or Wright would offer more straightforward replacements for Balogun.
In other team news, Mark McKenzie is dealing with an irritated foot, and Cristian Roldan has a quad strain. Auston Trusty was available as a substitute after recovering from an ankle issue but did not play in the recent match.