The United States Men’s National Team experienced some anxiety as they awaited their next FIFA World Cup match. After a 2-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32, the team faces Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday night.

In the previous match, striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in the 64th minute after a video assistant referee (VAR) review conducted by referee Rafael Claus. The decision came after Balogun was found to have stepped on the ankle of Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović.

The USMNT could not contest the red card, meaning Balogun will miss the upcoming game against Belgium. FIFA had an opportunity to extend the suspension if they determined the incident was severe. However, according to Doug McIntyre from Fox Sports, FIFA decided that Balogun’s suspension would only cover Monday night’s match. This outcome allows Balogun to return for the quarterfinals, should the USMNT advance to face either Spain or Portugal, who also play on Monday.

McIntyre shared via social media, saying, “Per USMNT spokesperson, FIFA has confirmed that Folarin Balogun is suspended for one game.”

The decision is vital for the USMNT, as Balogun has been instrumental, scoring three goals during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the red card itself stirred controversy. Before giving the red card, Claus had not issued a yellow card to Balogun. This decision left the USMNT with only 10 players for the remainder of the match.

Post-match, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino contended that Balogun’s actions were typical soccer plays and should not have resulted in a red card.

With this upcoming challenge, the USMNT will be without their leading scorer against Belgium, a team that defeated them 5-2 in a friendly match held on March 28 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.