On July 5, 2026, U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino expressed satisfaction with FIFA's decision to lift the suspension of forward Folarin Balogun. Pochettino stated that the team had been 'punished enough' during their match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, where they played with 10 men for 35 minutes following Balogun's red card.
Balogun was initially shown a red card for a hard challenge on Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 64th minute, after a lengthy VAR review. Despite his dismissal, the U.S. secured a 2-0 victory. The initial ruling by referee Raphael Claus was deemed unappealable, which would have meant Balogun missing the upcoming round-of-16 match against Belgium.
Pochettino praises FIFA's decision
FIFA announced on Sunday morning that Balogun's suspension was lifted, allowing him to play against Belgium. Instead, he will serve a one-year probation. FIFA stated that if Balogun commits a similar infringement during this period, his suspension will be enforced.
Pochettino remarked, "We were punished enough against Bosnia-Herzegovina to play with 10 men, 35 minutes in a decision that was completely unfair." He emphasized that the decision was not only about defending his team but also about the integrity of the sport.
Balogun's response and behavior during the incident
Following the incident, Balogun emphasized the importance of maintaining composure and setting a positive example for young fans. He notably shook Claus' hand after the match, which Pochettino believes contributed to the positive outcome regarding the lifting of the ban.
Pochettino stated, "The lesson is if you behave well, maybe you will be rewarded. I am so happy that he acted in this way." This mindset, according to Pochettino, can lead to favorable outcomes in difficult situations.
Looking ahead to the match against Belgium
The U.S. team is gearing up for their match against Belgium, aiming to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002. If they succeed, they will face the winner of the round-of-16 game between Spain and Portugal.
Pochettino, while avoiding political commentary regarding Donald Trump's social media remarks about the decision, focused on preparing his team for the match. He stated, "I was focusing on trying to prepare the team to face Belgium, working in different options, working in trying to be focusing and to play tomorrow with our best, in our best condition."
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by ESPN Soccer. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
