{"id":26372,"date":"2026-07-05T19:26:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T19:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/26372\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T19:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T19:26:14","slug":"folarin-baloguns-shock-return-a-massive-boost-for-usmnt-in-its-world-cup-quest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/26372\/","title":{"rendered":"Folarin Balogun\u2019s shock return a massive boost for USMNT in its World Cup quest"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEATTLE \u2014 Getting Folarin Balogun back into the U.S. men\u2019s national team lineup for Monday\u2019s round-of-16 knockout game gives an enormous lift to the American side. Balogun\u2019s one-game red card ban was suspended a year by FIFA, on the eve of the team\u2019s match vs. Belgium, as first reported by The Athletic<\/a>. With its leading scorer available for selection, the U.S. can feel considerably more confident as it seeks to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously for us, it gives us a boost,\u201d U.S. star Christian Pulisic said Sunday morning. Pulisic said he and other teammates learned of the change while on the bus on the way to training.<\/p>\n

For a U.S. team that has been riding home crowd momentum and the support of the country behind them, it now has the added good vibes of this surprise \u2014 one that has galvanized a fanbase that had been advocating for Balogun\u2019s return.<\/p>\n

\u201cFree Balo\u201d signs were popping up amongst fan group chats and on social media in the aftermath of the red card, which Balogun received in the round of 32 for stepping on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina\u2019s Tarik Muharemovic, following a video review. Now the U.S. has its star striker back. It came as a shock to players, who learned of the decision via social media on the team bus on the way to training. Starting center back Chris Richards joked that he \u201cthought it was AI\u201d at first, and that he needed several texts from family members and confirmations from different sources before he believed it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n The challenge that led to the red card (Photo: Michael Steele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

While the players looked mostly calm and business-as-usual at training at the University of Washington, they couldn\u2019t hold their smiles back when asked about Balogun\u2019s return. There was a sort of lightness to the mood of a team that was still trying to absorb the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very happy, we know how much impact he can make on the game,\u201d defender Alex Freeman said. \u201cFinding out he\u2019s available just gives us extra confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balogun has been the most in-form and effective attacking player for the U.S. in this World Cup tournament. He scored twice in the World Cup opener against Paraguay, set up an own goal against Australia and scored in the Bosnia win before getting his red card in the second half.<\/p>\n

That attacking form carries over from Balogun\u2019s club season in which he scored 11 goals in his last 16 games for Monaco in France\u2019s Ligue 1.<\/p>\n

Balogun is clearly the U.S.\u2019s best option up top. His counterpressing has been a major aid to the way the team plays, and Balogun\u2019s ability to run in behind the lines and cause havoc in the box opens space and makes things easier for the attacking players around him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBalo is always available,\u201d Pulisic said. \u201cI feel like when I have the ball, when others have the ball, he\u2019s making runs, he\u2019s so strong, he\u2019s quick, and he does a lot of good things. So, for us to play with a guy like that, it just \u2026 it makes it easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Balogun was sent off after a video review convinced referee Raphael Claus that he committed serious violent conduct (Michael Steele \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Americans had no like-for-like solution as they considered how to replace him this week<\/a>. Ricardo Pepi does a lot of off-ball work, but he has not been in the same level of scoring form in this tournament and doesn\u2019t pose as big of a threat to run in behind the back line. Haji Wright can stretch the field, but is less effective in his pressing and has played just one minute in this tournament.<\/p>\n

Players said the team, including Balogun, had been training as normal this week. Pulisic said they had been working on different tactical options, including ones in which Balogun was not playing. Multiple players said they had faith in their teammates to step up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have guys that can step up, there\u2019s no doubt about it,\u201d Pulisic said. \u201cObviously we weren\u2019t sure that this would happen, so it changes things. But we were prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, though, they can approach the game knowing they\u2019ll put their best possible lineup on the field. Beyond the tactical changes, that gives a mental boost for the U.S.<\/p>\n

For players<\/a>, it made right a decision they felt had been too harsh<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at the foul, it was just, it\u2019s zero intent at all,\u201d Pulisic said. \u201cI just felt like there was much worse (tackles) that went on in this tournament. I thought Balo handled it so well<\/a>, and I think the team handled it well. We weren\u2019t here to complain or make some (problems), like you have to handle it in a good way and good things happen to people like that. He was so positive and all for the team. It just feels right, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most certainly an impact from Belgium\u2019s perspective as well. Balogun changes the dynamic of this U.S. attack and is a handful to play against. The Belgians, who beat the U.S. 5-2 in a March friendly<\/a>, will now have to reset their own preparation for Monday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he strikes fear into a lot of defenders,\u201d Richards said. \u201cHe\u2019s had a good, good season at Monaco, and he came in here with the same momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mostly, though, it\u2019s changed the outlook for this game. The U.S. will enter with a strong enough side to be considered potential favorites against Belgium. And there will be no excuses now as the cohosts look to get back to the quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been granted this opportunity to have him, which is great for us,\u201d Pulisic said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m mostly just happy for him. Seeing that smile on his face\u2026he deserves to be playing in this game.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SEATTLE \u2014 Getting Folarin Balogun back into the U.S. men\u2019s national team lineup for Monday\u2019s round-of-16 knockout game…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26373,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[14728,7,9495,3937,506,3934,4097],"class_list":["post-26372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-belgium","tag-as-monaco-fc","tag-belgium","tag-bosnia-herzegovina","tag-fifa-mens-world-cup","tag-international-football","tag-soccer","tag-us-mens-national-team"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116869017552108764","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}