Balogun sent – Folarin Balogun was controversially sent off after a boot raked Tarik Muharemovic’s leg as the USA held a 1-0 lead over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara. Malik Tillman’s free-kick helped the USA win 2-0, but Balogun’s straight red means he will miss the R
The moment lasted just seconds, but it detonated into hours of outrage.
In the second half of Wednesday’s win for the USA against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Santa Clara. Folarin Balogun was sent off shortly after the hour mark with his team still clinging to a delicate 1-0 lead. The red card instantly shifted the mood around the match. and it did not take long for the backlash to spill onto social media.
Balogun, who had already scored three goals at this World Cup, had put the USA ahead just before halftime. But after the restart, he got into a tangle of legs with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic. The collision happened when Balogun accidentally ran his leg down Muharemovic’s heel.
Brazilian referee Raphael Claus went to the video replay monitor, watched the incident in slow motion, and decided Balogun was guilty of serious foul play. He then showed the USA striker a straight red card.
Balogun looked stunned by the decision and had to be consoled by his teammates before eventually leaving the field while the game was still hanging in the balance.
Malik Tillmann later scored a free-kick to double the USA’s lead, and the hosts held on to secure a hard-fought 2-0 win despite being down to 10 men for 30 minutes. Still, the red card hung over the final whistle, turning a historic night into a painful one for the American camp.
The consequence is severe: Balogun will miss the USA’s Round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday, July 6. The USA cannot appeal the decision with FIFA.
Social media captured the frustration in real time. Brittany Mahomes, who has played soccer at college, went on Instagram to slam the call, posting: “That was some bulls***… All I have to say #USA.” Her husband. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. also questioned it on X. writing: “Man what……”.
Jason Kelce—preparing for his brother Travis to get married on Friday to Taylor Swift—took a break from wedding planning to vent online. On X, Kelce wrote: “Man, somebody help me. That foul looked incidental from Balogun. shouldn’t a Red Card be given if there is either intention to foul. or an action that is aggressive and unsafe in nature?. Didn’t feel like Balogun was out of control or anything, just looked like it kind of happened.”.
JJ Watt was similarly furious. Posting on social media, Watt asked: “What’s the phone number for the FIFA red card appeal hotline?” He added: “What’s the phone number for the FIFA red card appeal hotline?” and also wrote: “You’ve gotta be kidding me….”
ESPN host Pat McAfee shared a video declaring his disbelief as he said, “You can’t get a red card for that. Balogun gets red carded?! He’s our goalscorer!”
On FOX’s post-game coverage, Zlatan Ibrahimovic also put the loss in perspective. “I believe it’s a big loss to be honest, he has been one of the best, if not the best player of the US team so far,” the former Swedish international said.
The tension around the decision is intensified by how quickly it followed Balogun’s impact earlier in the night. After scoring in the first half, Balogun celebrated with LeBron James’ “Silencer” gesture, and LeBron himself made sure to notice. Taking to X, the 41-year-old wrote: “LFG!!!!!!. THE [Silencer] HAS [landed] at the World Cup!. Helluva goal there Young [king]!”.
Now. that same moment of celebration has been followed by a straight red and an enforced absence at the biggest stage remaining. For head coach Pochettino, the victory is real—but so is the disruption. With Balogun suspended for the Belgium match on July 6. backup striker Ricardo Pepi is likely to take his place in the Round of 16.
Folarin Balogun Tarik Muharemovic Raphael Claus USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Belgium Round of 16 2026 World Cup Malik Tillman Brittany Mahomes Patrick Mahomes JJ Watt Jason Kelce Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Red cards are such bs half the time.
Wait so he got a straight red for just stepping on somebody? I swear the replay stuff is always so dramatic. Like they replay it 500 times and then decide he’s guilty.
Honestly the referee should’ve let it go, it looked like a normal tangle of legs to me. If he misses Belgium, that’s gonna ruin the whole strategy. Also why is it called serious foul play when he “accidentally” ran his leg down the heel?? Doesn’t make sense.
I saw the headline and thought he was banned like for life?? Like “bans Belgium” sounds permanent to me lol. But yeah that slow motion video decisions always get people mad. If USA was winning 1-0 then one mistake and now he’s out of the Round of 16… that’s rough. I’m not even sure what a boot raked heel means, sounds like he did something worse than just a collision.