Folarin Balogun was sent off in the USMNT’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 Folarin Balogun was shown a straight red card in the 64th minute of the USA’s Round of 32 clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s side to play the final stretch of the match a man down.
The USMNT striker, who had given the hosts a 1-0 lead just before halftime, was sent off for a from-behind challenge on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. The referee deemed the tackle serious foul play, and while it didn’t appear to be intentional or overly dangerous, its reckless nature was enough to warrant a straight red rather than a yellow card.
The dismissal is a major blow for the USA on multiple fronts. Balogun has been the focal point of the American attack throughout the tournament, and losing their leading scorer left Pochettino’s side to defend a slim one-goal lead with 10 men for the final 25-plus minutes of the match.
On top of that, the red card carries an automatic one-match suspension, ruling him out of the USA’s next fixture should they advance past Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Was this worthy of a red card? 🟥 pic.twitter.com/WfrIxMRNMD— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 2, 2026
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