The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) will be without forward Folarin Balogun for their World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium following a controversial red card received during their victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026. The decision, made after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, has drawn criticism from players, coaches, and officiating experts who argue that protocols were not followed and that similar incidents have been treated differently throughout the tournament.
Former U.S. World Cup player John Harkes, who experienced his own suspension for yellow card violations, has called for FIFA to re-evaluate its red card rules in light of Balogun's ejection. The USMNT secured their spot in the knockout stage with a 2-0 win, their first advancement to the round of 16 since 2002, with player performances drawing praise for their dominance and skill.
According to an analysis by Andy Davies, a former Premier League and Championship referee, the VAR review in Balogun's case should not have occurred. Davies stated that VAR officials based their recommendation to the on-field referee on slow-motion and still replays, which he contends is contrary to VAR protocols for red card tackle situations, where such replays should only be used for point-of-contact analysis.
While Davies acknowledged that the tackle itself might have warranted a red card based on the letter of the law, the initiation of the review process is seen as flawed. This incident stands in contrast to numerous other similar tackles throughout the World Cup that did not result in reviews or cards, leading to accusations of a double standard. USMNT player Weston McKennie expressed his disappointment, noting that many comparable plays involving other players went uncarded and unreviewed. He specifically referenced an incident involving Argentinian star Lionel Messi, who committed a studs-up tackle that resulted in a free kick but no card or VAR review. Algeria, the opposing team in the Messi incident, reportedly filed a complaint with FIFA over the officiating.
The absence of an appeal process for Balogun's suspension has also been criticized. The referee for the match, Raphael Claus, has a history of being investigated for match-fixing allegations in Brazil, although no indication of such influence has been suggested for this specific game. Claus himself did not initially see the incident at full speed as warranting a card until prompted by the VAR review.
Fans and experts have pointed to the perceived inconsistency in officiating, suggesting that VAR officials might be more hesitant to review incidents involving highly prominent players. The USMNT faces Belgium without Balogun, and the controversy surrounding his suspension has cast a shadow over the team's tournament performance and raised questions about the integrity of FIFA's officiating standards. The potential impact of Balogun's absence on the team's prospects, including a possible quarterfinal matchup against Spain or Portugal, is a significant concern following what is being described as an absurd and farcical officiating process.