The US Advance To The Round Of 16 But Are Missing A Piece

The U.S. has made it to the round of 16 after a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night. It cost them their star striker, Folarin Balogun. He scored the first goal but was shown a red card in the 61st minute after he fouled Tarik Muharemovic. He is now suspended for the round of 16.

The foul itself was not malicious. A crisp ball up the left flank from Antonee Robinson, a sudden tangle of legs, and an awkward misstep. In a split second, Folarin Balogun’s right foot landed squarely on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s calf, skidding straight down onto his ankle in an accidental collision that completely altered the momentum of the match. At full speed, it looked like an awkward collision — clumsy, but the kind that normally earns a free kick and little else. The VAR saw enough to intervene, though, and Claus jogged over to the monitor. The replay showed Balogun’s studs biting into Muharemovic’s leg at an unflattering angle. One short look was all it took; the red card came out. Balogun’s face shifted from confusion to distress, and several teammates came over before he walked off.

The Americans regrouped and put the game away late with a Malik Tillman free kick. They got a good result, but at a bad cost.

A straight red triggers an automatic one-game ban. The disciplinary committee can add matches to the ban but cannot shorten it. Balogun can attend the Belgium match, but only as a spectator. The dressing room, tunnel, and bench will be off-limits to him.

Graham Scott, who made the final decision, spent years as a referee in the Premier League. He called the decision tough but said it reflects well how VAR has changed the way officials see these moments. Everything depends on the point of contact, which allows slow-motion replays to turn something minor into something reckless. “In the spirit of the law, Balogun was unlucky,” Scott said. “But in its recent interpretation, a red card was inevitable.” Whether that distinction satisfies anyone in the U.S. camp is another matter entirely. For now, they are into the knockout rounds without the striker who got them there.