The United States booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the celebrations were tempered by a major upset as star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off in the second half.The red card means Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now set to be without one of their most influential forwards for the knockout clash against Belgium on July 6 – unless a successful appeal overturns the suspension.
Balogun sent after the VAR review
Balogun had given the USA the lead just 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 the pitchside monitor. After the VAR check, Claus upgraded the decision to 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 win with a stunning free-kick.The goal was Balogun’s third of the tournament, bringing him level 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 men’s World Cup, set in 1930.
Will 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 things stand, that means Balogun will miss the U.S.’s Round of 16 meeting with Belgium.However, it remains a slim possibility that the attacker could still present.After the match, the US Soccer Federation can appeal to FIFA’s disciplinary committee to overturn the suspension. If FIFA determines the dismissal was wrong or merits reconsideration, the automatic one-match ban could be overturned.Should the appeal fail, Balogun will watch from the sidelines as the U.S. chases just its third World Cup knockout victory.The striker had been one of the protagonists of the tournament before his dismissal. In addition to scoring, he had another effort ruled out for offside and repeatedly troubled the Bosnian defense with his movement.Balogun also paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James by celebrating with the iconic ‘Silencer’ gesture after finding the net. James later acknowledged the celebration on social media.The red card was just the fifth received by a United States player at a men’s World Cup, adding another dramatic chapter to an eventful night that ultimately ended with the Americans reaching the Round of 16 despite playing more than 25 minutes a man.