1 of 5 | Forward Folarin Balogun (L), the United States' top scorer at the 2026 World Cup, is ineligible for the Round of 16 due to a red card he earned in a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif. File Photo by Christian Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
July 2 (UPI) -- United States players remain confident for a World Cup Round of 16 meeting with Belgium, despite losing Folarin Balogun to a red card suspension.
The Americans sounded off about the ban after they took out No. 61 Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday for their first knockout stage win since 2002. Balogun was crucial in making that happen, with a team-leading three goals at the 2026 World Cup, including the first of Wednesday's 2-0 triumph in Santa Clara, Calif.
Now, coach Mauricio Pochettino will be tasked with replacing the striker against the Americans' toughest foe thus far, No. 9 Belgium.
"Of course he is a great player," midfielder Malik Tillman told reporters at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. "He is our top scorer so far. Of course we are going to miss him, but we have great players who can replace him and give the best they can and hopefully score some goals for us as well."
