The United States men's national team secured its place in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, edging past Bosnia-Herzegovina with a 2‑0 victory that left the crowd chanting in Santa Clara, California.
The breakthrough came in the 45th minute when Balogun, already the team's leading scorer in the tournament, slipped a low strike past the Bosnian keeper to open the scoring.
A Controversial Dismissal
Just over half an hour later, the referee brandished a red card after a challenge on Tarik Muharemovic, a decision that was upheld following a video assistant referee review.
FIFA confirmed that the dismissal is final and cannot be appealed, meaning Balogun will miss the next match as the Americans prepare to meet Belgium in Seattle, Washington on July 6.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino later described Balogun as "sad" and "disappointed", insisting the foul was a normal part of the game and not an act of malice.
Teammate Weston McKennie publicly questioned the call, calling it "a bit bogus" given the tournament stage, while referee Andy Davies later said the card was "unfortunate" and not a clear red‑card offense.
What’s Next for the U.S.
Despite playing with ten men for the remainder of regulation and ten minutes of stoppage time, the U.S. doubled its lead, sealing a 2‑0 win that underscores their resilience.
The victory marks the fourth time in the last four World Cup cycles that the United States has reached the round of 16, a streak that has fans optimistic about a deep run.
The team will now face Belgium in Seattle, a match that could further cement their momentum as they look to translate early success into a longer tournament run.