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The United States men’s national team scored arguably its biggest victory in recent history, but it came at a cost.
Midway through Wednesday night’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Folarin Balogun, the team’s top scorer this World Cup, who found the net in the first half, was controversially shown a red card.
While searching for a loose ball, Balogun and an opponent accidentally became entangled to the point where Balogun stepped on the opponent’s ankle, causing him to roll awkwardly. The video assistant referee (VAR) ordered the play to be watched, and Balogun’s transgressions were deemed “serious” enough to warrant the red card.
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Folarin Balogun of the United States of America leaves the field after receiving a red card during the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 match between the United States of America and Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, 2026 at San Francisco Bay Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The red card means that not only was Balogun ejected from the match and the United States was forced to play the remainder of the match with 10 personnel, but Balogun will also miss the team’s Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Almost immediately, the outcry over the red card was extreme and fans were hoping for some sort of appeal process to take place, but there is none.
Article 9.6 of the 2026 World Cup regulations states: “No challenge may be made against the decisions of the referee concerning facts relating to the game. Such decisions are final and without appeal, unless otherwise provided in the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”
“If a player or team official is sent off following a direct or indirect red card (second warning), he will be automatically suspended from his team’s next match,” states article 10.5.
In fact, the sanctions can only increase. For example, Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo was suspended for five matches after breaking the leg of Canadian Ismaël Koné. Although this is unlikely in Balogun’s case, it is actually not ruled out.
Folarin Balogun of the United States receives a red card from referee Raphael Claus during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Getty Images)
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There are many different opinions as to whether VAR was correctly applied to the situation, but unfortunately for the United States, it may simply be used to determine whether a red card should be handed out. And finally, after viewing the images, the decision rests with the head referee, although the referee may receive advice from the video assistant referee and/or other officials.
The International Football Association Board states that slow-motion replay should generally be avoided in VAR, but it could be used to determine “facts, e.g. offense/player position, point of contact for physical offenses and handball, ball out of play (including goal/no goal); normal speed should be used for the “intensity” of an offense or to decide whether it was a handball offense. Therefore, this incident may fall under the “physical infractions” part of these regulations.
And finally, according to the IFAB, “any player who throws himself at an opponent by contesting the ball from the front, side or behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or who endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious misconduct.”
So while it doesn’t appear that Balogun had bad intentions, it was the unfortunate and unlucky hand that was dealt to the USMNT. The United States will have no choice but to find a replacement for someone who was probably its best player in what is now perhaps the most important game in American soccer history.
Folarin Balogun (20) of the United States and Christian Pulisic (10) of the United States stand nearby after Balogun received a red card during the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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The United States is slightly favored to defeat Belgium on Monday night in Seattle, but the odds have undoubtedly taken a hit.
