Pochettino Slams Balogun Red Card as “Never a Red” After USMNT World Cup Win

U.S. national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has strongly criticized the controversial red card shown to striker Folarin Balogun during their World Cup victory, stating it was “never a red card.” The dismissal in the 64th minute, following a video review for stepping on an opponent’s ankle, means the U.S. will be without their star forward for their upcoming round of 16 clash against Belgium.

Pochettino defended Balogun, emphasizing that the incident was accidental and lacked malicious intent. “For me? Never a red card,” Pochettino said. “Never an intention to step on the player. It was a normal action in football that happened by accident.” He added that Balogun was “very disappointed” and “sad” about the situation.

Por que importa

Despite the setback, the U.S. secured a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Malik Tillman’s late free-kick sealing the victory after Balogun’s early first-half goal. The team’s ability to manage the game with 10 men highlighted their resilience and growing maturity.

Key facts

Referee Raphael Claus faced scrutiny for a number of decisions throughout the match, which Pochettino noted did not go in favor of the U.S. “Today, you know 50/50 decisions? Not one goes for us,” Pochettino commented. “The players reacted very well, we controlled the emotional part of the game.”

Contexto

Bosnia generated minimal attacking threat, with an expected goals (xG) of just 0.25 despite having a man advantage for a significant portion of the second half. This defensive solidity allowed the U.S. to maintain control and secure the win.

Christian Pulisic echoed the coach’s sentiments, telling Fox, “I felt we put on such a good performance and didn’t deserve the red card.” The red card incident has drawn comparisons to other controversial refereeing decisions involving the U.S. in past World Cups.

Balogun’s frustration was reportedly fueled by physical treatment from Bosnian defenders, a sentiment that also saw Tyler Adams on the receiving end of a heavy challenge. Notably, no Bosnian player was cautioned until the 80th minute.

The absence of Balogun presents a significant challenge for the U.S. as they prepare to face Belgium in Seattle. The team suffered a 5-2 defeat to Belgium earlier in the year but has shown considerable growth and maturity since then. Pochettino expressed confidence in his team’s development, stating, “The maturity of the team is amazing, the way we’re going in the last 5-6 weeks.”

Looking ahead to the match against Belgium, who are considered World Cup contenders, Pochettino remains optimistic. “For us, it’s about to keep dreaming,” he said. “To keep working… all is possible in football if you believe. And we are going to believe.”

Source: The Athletic Football – USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino criticizes Folarin Balogun sending off: ‘Never a red card’ – https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7415011/2026/07/02/usmnt-balogun-red-card-pochettino/