15 hours ago
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Balogun started
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The United States have followed co-hosts Mexico and Canada and have exited the 2026 World Cup at the round of 16. But the US men’s national team exit will be the one surrounded by the most controversy. Controversy by their own making. Ahead of the match, it appeared that the White House had successfully lobbied to overturn the red card suspension of star striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun was sent off against Bosnia for what was a harsh but explainable red card. On Sunday, FIFA suspended Balogun’s suspension, but despite the striker being available, Belgium smashed the US 4-1 to advance.
“Everyone that really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity, I think we celebrate all that decision,” USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said about the decision. “We were punished enough against Bosnia Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes [because of] a decision that was completely unfair.” He continued: “99.9% of people agree there was an unfair red card.” He and most of the US media may have seen it that way. While harsh, the rest of the world didn’t necessarily agree that Balogun's sending off was a complete error. But even if it was, overturning it was, without a doubt, controversial, especially in the manner in which it was done.
In fact, Belgium were furious. "I didn't know that at the World Cup, the 5th of July is actually the first of April—it's April Fools' [Day]," Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia said at the pregame conference on Sunday. This was a Belgian side that, up until this point, had been pretty poor at the tournament. They struggled to 1-1 draws against Egypt and Iran. They may have smashed New Zealand 5-1, but that was to be expected. In the round of 32, they needed a miracle to get past Senegal (3-2 A.E.T.).
Belgium unleashed – Balogun struggles for the USMNT
The decision by FIFA to suspend Balogun’s red card suspension, however, seemed to have unleashed something in this Belgium side. They were brilliant tonight. Charles de Ketelaere (9’& 33’), Hans Vanaken (57’) after a brutal mistake by Matt Freese, and Romelu Lukaku (90+3’) scored for the Red Devils. Only a brilliant freekick by Malik Tillman (31’) gave the US brief hope that they could continue their run. While the US played almost timidly, Belgium played precisely and almost angrily, obviously motivated by the World Cup politics that were going against them.
What about Balogun? There is no doubt that he has emerged as the US men’s national team's most important player. With a €40m valuation, Balogun, together with Christian Pulisic, who once again had to leave the field with an injury, is the team’s most valuable player. He also scored three goals and one assist in three games prior to tonight. This tournament was his coming-out party, and even after the red card he received against Bosnia, he was set to use it to land a big transfer this summer. Tonight, Balogun managed just 19 touches and completed just 60% of his ten passes. He looked like a player who was both overwhelmed by the spotlight and obviously not part of Pochettino’s pre-match preparations.
Indeed, in retrospect the question has to be asked whether the US head coach should have gone without Balogun after all. Hindsight is always 20/20, and part of the story is also that despite all the hype, this US team isn’t quite at the same level as even middling European powers. But this was their home tournament, they had everything going for them, and still it wasn’t quite good enough. So where do we go from here? Like their co-hosts, Canada. The US needs to build on the momentum from this tournament and continue investing in the sport. America is an unrivalled sports nation with unbelievable infrastructure and, in the right hands, could become a soccer world power.
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