The red card shown to Folarin Balogun, a striker for the U.S. Men’s National Team, will likely be seen as a pivotal moment for the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fans expressed significant frustration over the decision, particularly given its consequences. With this red card, Balogun will miss the crucial round of 16 match against Belgium next week.
It’s, well, a tough blow for the squad as it’s the biggest game of the tournament.
Interestingly, Bruce Arena, a voice in the minority, defended the referee’s call on FanDuel Network, suggesting that Brazilian referee Rafael Kraus made the right choice.
He stated, “Intent doesn’t matter. It was a dangerous play and that fall could have broken the player’s ankle. Balogun obviously didn’t mean it, but player safety must come first.” He reflected that while a yellow card might have been understandable, the use of VAR in reviewing the foul allowed the referee to reconsider and justifiably give a red card.
Arena, who has coached the USMNT in two previous World Cups, shared that his experience in 2002 was especially memorable. That was when the underdog U.S. team shocked Portugal with a 3-2 win, later defeating Mexico to reach the quarter-finals. It was a heart-wrenching loss, ultimately succumbing to Germany 1-0, though the U.S. had plenty of chances to score.
After the U.S. team’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, current coach Mauricio Pochettino also stood by Balogun. He commented, “I never received a red card myself. These things happen in football. It was just a moment.”
If the USMNT is unsuccessful against Belgium on Monday, the controversy surrounding Balogun’s red card may linger for years.
