The USMNT is expecting to have Folarin Balogun back for a potential World Cup quarterfinal — if the tournament co-hosts advance.
Balogun, who was sent off in the 64th minute Wednesday’s 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after a video review showed that he’d stomped on the ankle of defender Tarik Muharemovic while challenging for a ball, is suspended for the U.S.’s round-of-16 match against Belgium. Balogun, who celebrated his 25th birthday Friday, told reporters he thought the controversial red should’ve been a yellow.
A U.S. Soccer spokesperson told The Athletic that FIFA has informed the federation that Balogun won’t have any games added to his punishment meaning, following Monday’s meeting with Belgium in Seattle, he will be available for selection if the U.S. makes it to the last eight.
FIFA has been approached for comment.
“It’s important for me to say, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional,” Balogun said Friday, speaking to reporters for the first time since Wednesday’s game. “The choice of the referee was his choice. I don’t think it was the correct choice. I think a yellow card would’ve been fair, due to it not being intentional.”
“It’s something that happened, we have to move forward and I have to accept it,” Balogun said.
Referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially show the USMNT’s star striker a red card but, after being directed to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the game’s Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the Brazilian official decided to send him off, telling Levi’s Stadium he had committed a “serious foul.”
Red cards at the World Cup come with an automatic one-game ban, with FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee having the power to increase that if they deem it appropriate to do so.
Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron’s one-game ban for covering his mouth in a situation of confrontation was not increased, but Assim Madibo, the Qatar midfielder, saw his suspension changed to a five-match ban for his tackle that broke the leg of Canada’s Ismaël Koné.
Of the play itself, Balogun said: “If you played the game, you would understand that there’s scenarios you simply can’t avoid them. That needs to be taken into context and it wasn’t on this occasion. As you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg. It’s gonna be unavoidable.”
He added he was “extremely surprised” by the decision. “I initially thought the ref was actually gonna give a call for me,” he said.
Balogun came back on the field after the win to celebrate with his teammates as well as shake the hands of all the game’s referees. He didn’t linger or protest, he wanted to show respect.
“There are lots of people we’re inspiring, boys and girls watching, you have to show them the right way to handle things,” Balogun said. “Even when you think it’s unjust.”
Balogun spoke to reporters for the first time since Wednesday’s game. (Imagn Images via Reuters / Steven Bisig)
Asked what was going through his head in those moments while he was waiting on the field for his fate to be decided, he said: “A ton of emotion. It’s difficult to see red at any time, but especially now, in such a high-pressure tournament, in such a high-pressure situation.
“There was many emotions, but for me, the most important thing was just trying to stay calm. I didn’t want to react emotionally, out of anger. I had to just accept that a decision was made, whether I agreed with it or not, and tried to also think about how I can help moving forward.”
Balogun added: “You can feel something unjust has happened to you, but it’s not an excuse to not do the right thing. Every game I try to shake the referee’s hand and this game was no different. It’s important to give the correct example to people watching.
“I’m aware that the World Cup might be the first time a lot of American viewers are tuning in. It’s just important just to show people whatever thing happen to you, good or bad, just continue to be yourself.”
Flo Balogun on the field with his USMNT teammates after the match and shook the hands of all referees. Didn’t linger or seem to protest. pic.twitter.com/VXzlqjKz6l
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) July 2, 2026
Balogun said the last few days have been a roller coaster — from scoring the goal to seeing red and even to learning that LeBron James tweeted a reaction to his “The Silencer” celebration.
“There’s been lots of different emotions,” Balogun said. “Been upset. I’ve been happy. It’s been surreal, to be honest.”
In the coming days, Balogun said he’ll do whatever he can to “support the team.”
“I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey and what we’re doing,” he said. “I think my role is just to continue to support everybody, to keep morale high and I’m sure for the game against Belgium we can really create a great atmosphere to make the game as challenging as possible.”
