Star Forward Picks up Red Card in Team USA’s 2-0 Victory in FIFA 2026 World Cup
The talk amongst Americans over the next five days will center on one man, and no, it’s not just about where LeBron James will be heading. After his goal put Team USA up 1-0 heading into halftime, Folarin Balogun was handed a red card on a tough collision play with over half an hour left in the game. Despite the crushing blow to the Americans, Maurice Pochettino’s squad stayed mentally strong and played a rough-and-tumble second half of football. A free kick from Malik Tillman went off the outstretched hand of Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and into the back of the net for the second goal of the game. The United States rode this momentum for the rest of the match all the way to a 2-0 win, clinching the club’s knockout round win since the 2002 World Cup. However, all the focus will now be placed on the referee’s decision to kick Balogun out of Wednesday night’s contest, which will keep him out of Team USA’s match against Belgium on Monday. Keeping all that information in mind, here are a pair of takeaways for The Stars and Stripes just a little over 48 hours away from Independence Day.
Balogun’s Presence on the Pitch Is a Nightmare for Opposing Teams-and Will Be Sorely Missed Against Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina, a team known for its toughness and attention to detail on defense, could do nothing to stop the composed goal-scoring forward. If it wasn’t for an offside call and a kick that sailed slightly north of the box, ‘Flo’ could have had a first-half hat-trick. All of the greatness of Christian Pulisic aside, the Bosnians could not keep their eyes off the Monaco forward. Although Team USA was largely unthreatened on Wednesday due to a great performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese, the question of how they will perform without their dynamic, pace-driven striker looms large.
Can Team USA Compete Against Belgium Down a Star?
Team Belgium, coming off an insane comeback victory against Senegal in which they had to score three unanswered goals down 2-0, may feel like all momentum is on their side heading into Seattle. We’ve already seen the Americans struggle to create without Balogun when an undermanned Team USA lost 3-2 against Türkiye, but that match saw more starters sit out than just him. Pochettino’s unit will head into that game as the odds-on favorite, but a win against Belgium would be a huge ask for a team searching for its first World Cup Quarterfinal appearance in 24 years. Without their high-pressing attacking weapon on the pitch, expect Ricardo Pepi to get the nod for the starting lineup and the majority of the time alongside Pulisic.
