Balogun was only able to play after FIFA overturned his red card against Bosnia following a call from President Trump
Credit: Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Folarin Balogun apologized to fans after the U.S. was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Belgium
- Balogun returned to play after FIFA overturned his suspension following a controversial red card in the round of 32
- Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals with their 4-1 win over the U.S.
Folarin Balogun shared an emotional message to fans after the United States was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
On Tuesday, July 7, Balogun apologized to fans one day after the U.S. lost 4-1 to Belgium.
“My debut World Cup. It hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. I want to say sorry to our fans it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down,” the star U.S. striker, 25, wrote in a post on X.
“Soccer in America will only become bigger the belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us, the future belongs to those who never stop believing, this moment will fuel us,” he continued.
Credit: David Ramos/Getty
Balogun concluded his message on an optimistic note after the U.S. men’s national team’s World Cup dreams came to an end in Seattle.
“We will be back,” he wrote. “Why not us? For the nation. For the flag.”
My debut World Cup… it hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. I want to say sorry to our fans it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down
Soccer in America will only become bigger the belief, the talent, and the… pic.twitter.com/Wgk4bnpunV
— Balogun (@balogun) July 8, 2026
On Monday night, Belgium defeated the U.S. 4-1 and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals.
The Belgians took an early lead with the first goal nine minutes into the match. Malik Tillman tied it 31 minutes in, scoring the only U.S. goal of the night. Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere scored his second goal 33 minutes in.
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Credit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty
The U.S. kept the game tight until the 57th minute, when goaltender Matt Freese made a mistake by coming far out into the pitch. Belgium’s Hans Vanaken capitalized, snagging a third goal, and Romelu Lukaku sealed the win with a fourth goal just at the end of stoppage time, ending the USMNT’s dreams.
The loss came after Balogun unexpectedly returned to the pitch despite getting a red card during the U.S.’s round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1. Balogan was issued a red card suspension, but that was reversed on Sunday after President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Credit: Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire via Getty
“All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump, 80, told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, July 6, hours ahead of the round of 16 clash between the United States and Belgium in the FIFA World Cup.
He continued, “I saw the play, and I’m a person who loves sports and was a good athlete. That wasn’t a foul. That wasn’t even an infraction.”
Balogun was ejected during the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1. He was tossed from the game during the 64th minute after he got tangled up with Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic.
As a result, the striker received a one-game suspension after seemingly inadvertently stepping on Muharemovic’s ankle. Belgium challenged the decision on Monday morning, but FIFA overturned it, allowing for Balogun to return.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarterfinals on July 10.
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