Mauricio Pochettino's United States side secured a 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, earning a place in the World Cup last 16 against Belgium in Seattle. However, the win came at a significant cost with forward Folarin Balogun receiving a straight red card.
Balogun, who had scored three goals in the tournament leading up to this match, broke the deadlock shortly before halftime. The 24-year-old striker's night, and potentially his tournament, concluded just after the hour mark following an incident with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. While shielding the ball, Balogun's foot landed on the back of Muharemovic's ankle as it returned to the ground, causing the Bosnian player's ankle to twist.
Despite appearing accidental in real-time, a review on the referee's monitor led to Balogun being shown a straight red card. This marks a significant moment in his World Cup campaign, as he becomes only the third American to score three goals in a single World Cup edition and the fourth player in history to both score and be sent off in a knockout match. He joins an elite group that includes Brazil's Garrincha, Ronaldinho, and France's Zinedine Zidane.
The immediate consequence of the red card is a one-game suspension, ruling Balogun out of the upcoming match against Belgium. FIFA officials may also extend this ban, potentially impacting his availability for subsequent knockout rounds should the U.S. advance.
Ricardo Pepi is the most likely candidate to replace Balogun in the starting lineup. However, Pepi has not scored in his 184 minutes on the field during this tournament, nor in the four preceding friendly matches. His last international goal was in November 2024 during a Nations League game.
Despite the setback, the team remains focused. U.S. defender Chris Richards expressed the squad's solidarity, stating, "We told him we have got his back. We are a team of 26, not just one. Ultimately we are going to miss him for the next game but we know whoever is going to step up is going to do a job just as well as he did."
Coach Pochettino echoed this sentiment, highlighting the team's resilience. "When Balogun received the red card, I thought that is the moment we need to show we are a team and the eyes of the players were [saying], 'Coach, we are ready to go and fight' and that is amazing," he said. "These guys are creating a legacy in this country and with our amazing fans everything is possible. Why not us?"