Folarin Balogun gave the United States everything on July 1, and then he gave them a massive problem. The USMNT striker opened the scoring in a 2-0 round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina, only to be sent off after a VAR review for a serious foul late in the second half.

The result: an automatic one-match suspension that rules him out of the Round of 16 clash against Belgium. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino now faces one of the biggest tactical puzzles of the tournament, figuring out how to replace the player who had been scoring at will.

What happened against Bosnia-Herzegovina

Balogun’s night started about as well as any striker could hope. He found the back of the net early, putting the Americans ahead and setting the tone for what looked like a comfortable knockout-stage debut.

Then the match took a sharp turn. A challenge in the second half drew a VAR intervention, and the review resulted in a straight red card. The USMNT were forced to grind out the remaining minutes with ten men.

They managed it. The 2-0 scoreline held, and the US advanced. But the victory came at a steep cost. Balogun, who had scored in three consecutive USMNT starts heading into the World Cup, will now watch the Belgium game from the stands.

An appeal is considered unlikely to succeed. FIFA’s regulations on red card suspensions, particularly those confirmed by VAR, leave very little room for reversal. Pochettino and his staff appear to be operating under the assumption that Balogun will not be available.

The replacement candidates

Three names have emerged as potential options to fill the void up front: Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, and a more creative tactical solution involving Christian Pulisic or Malik Tillman in a shifted role.

Pepi is the most straightforward like-for-like swap. He plays the same central striker position and has been part of the USMNT setup for years. Slotting him in preserves the basic shape of the team’s attack without requiring wholesale tactical changes.

Haji Wright offers a different profile. He brings more physicality and aerial presence, which could be particularly useful against a Belgian defense that will likely try to control possession. Wright’s hold-up play could create space for the wingers and attacking midfielders to operate in.

Then there is the wildcard option. Pochettino could opt against a traditional striker altogether and deploy Pulisic or Tillman in a false nine role.

Why Balogun’s absence matters so much

Balogun switched his international eligibility to the USMNT in 2023 after previously representing England at youth level. He has transformed from a promising talent into the team’s most dangerous attacking weapon, scoring three goals in the 2026 World Cup, and his absence against Belgium creates a hole that goes beyond the stat sheet.

The USMNT has not advanced past the knockout stages in recent World Cups, which makes this juncture feel even more consequential. The round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina was significant on its own, but the real test comes next against Belgium.