Balogun suspended for USMNT's Round of 16 after controversial red card in Bosnia win
The United States men's national soccer team defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in Wednesday's Round of 32 match, securing their first World Cup knockout victory in over two decades. The win came at a cost: striker Folarin Balogun, who scored the go-ahead goal, was shown a red card in the second half after stepping on an opponent's ankle. A VAR review upheld Brazilian referee Raphael Claus' decision. Balogun's one-game suspension means he will miss the team's upcoming Round of 16 match against Belgium. Multiple sources confirm that FIFA rules do not permit appeals of red card decisions, making the suspension final. The decision has drawn criticism from various observers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the team "got screwed" by the call. One source noted the referee had previously faced accusations related to match fixing, though this claim appeared in only one outlet. Balogun had been among the USMNT's top performers in the tournament, with three goals in four matches before his suspension. The match drew record viewership in the United States, with 24.4 million viewers tuning in to watch the victory on Fox Sports, marking an all-time high for soccer coverage in America.
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