The US men’s national team just advanced past Bosnia and Herzegovina with a 2-0 win in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The celebration lasted about five seconds before reality set in: their best striker won’t be available for the next match.

Folarin Balogun, the USMNT’s top scorer at the tournament with three goals in four matches, picked up a straight red card in the 64th minute of the July 1 victory. Under FIFA regulations, that red card cannot be appealed, meaning Balogun is automatically banned for the round-of-16 clash against Belgium on July 6.

What happened on the pitch

The sequence that led to the ejection was, to put it mildly, a chain reaction of unfortunate events. Balogun stepped on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s ankle during a challenge. Referee Raphael Claus initially let play continue, apparently not seeing enough to warrant a call.

Then VAR official Juan Soto intervened. After review, the on-field decision was reversed, and Balogun was shown a straight red for serious foul play.

The USMNT played the final 26 minutes a man down but still held on to advance. Coach Mauricio Pochettino and several players expressed frustration over the decision, but frustration doesn’t change FIFA’s rulebook.

Here’s the thing about straight red cards in FIFA tournament play: they carry an automatic one-match suspension with zero avenue for appeal. The only exception FIFA typically makes is for cases of mistaken identity, and nobody is disputing that Balogun was the player involved.

The tactical hole and what comes next

Balogun’s three goals in four matches made him the focal point of the US attack under Pochettino’s system. Pochettino will need to decide whether to slot in a like-for-like replacement up front or adjust the formation entirely.

For context, Belgium has historically been a difficult matchup for the US. The two sides met in the 2014 World Cup knockout round, a match Belgium won in extra time.