On the morning of his 25th birthday, Folarin Balogun faced media inquiries, though the topics at hand were far from celebratory. The striker was unable to engage with reporters following the United States’ World Cup last-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the opening goal in a decisive 2-0 win but was expelled from the match after receiving a red card in the second half.
As the skies cleared over Seattle on Friday, marking the start of the team’s second training phase in the Pacific Northwest, Balogun appeared to be reconciling with his impending absence for the last 16 clash against Belgium. A representative from US Soccer confirmed that Balogun’s suspension applies solely to this one match, with no further games affected.
“I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy,” Balogun shared about the whirlwind 36 hours he experienced. “It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.”
Despite his belief that the red card was unwarranted, Balogun made it a point to shake hands with referee Raphael Claus after the game. He emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for the younger audience watching the tournament, many of whom may be experiencing the World Cup for the first time.
“Even though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful,” Balogun remarked. “After every game, I try to shake the referee’s hand, and this game was no different.”
Balogun’s ejection has resonated within American sports culture. While concepts like VAR and intricate game strategies remain unfamiliar to many casual viewers drawn in by the World Cup, an expulsion perceived as unfair has sparked significant discussion and support.
Following the match, Balogun’s Instagram post attracted a flurry of comments from brands seeking engagement, along with support from notable figures. ESPN host Pat McAfee used the hashtag “I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey and in what we’re doing,” while NFL quarterbacks Mac Jones and Lamar Jackson voiced their backing. The red card incident has seemingly galvanized both dedicated USMNT fans and more casual observers ahead of the upcoming match against Belgium.
“I think for me it’s important to be fair even when I’m giving my opinion on things,” Balogun expressed.
When asked to recount the incident that led to his red card—an apparently innocuous collision with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic, during which Balogun’s foot landed on his opponent’s ankle—he found it challenging to justify the harsh outcome. “If you’ve played the game, you would understand there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed. I felt [that context] wasn’t [considered] on this occasion. “I think as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s going to be unavoidable. I’ve seen many different opinions and takes, but for me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.” he explained. “Obviously, things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible,”
“Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. If it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever has to step up.”
Rudi Garcia’s team will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of not facing the US’s most effective attacker. Belgium struggled against Senegal for large stretches of their last-32 match on Wednesday, particularly against decisive strikers earlier in the group stage.
In the days ahead, Mauricio Pochettino will strategize on keeping Belgium on the defensive. Given Garcia’s tactical approach, the Red Devils will aim to maintain a greater share of possession than at least three of the US’s first four opponents in the World Cup, making transitional plays critical. Without their usual offensive leader, the US will need to find new ways to conclude those sequences effectively.
“Obviously, things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible,” stated midfielder Tyler Adams, whose role will likely shift away from center-forward responsibilities. “Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. If it’s [Ricardo] Pepi, if it’s Haji [Wright], if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for whoever has to step up.”
