The United States reached the World Cup round of 16 for the first time since 2002 after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, but the win was overshadowed by a straight red card for Folarin Balogun.
Balogun’s dismissal sparked fury among American supporters, many of whom were baffled that the striker was sent off after having already put the USMNT in front.
The debate has intensified because the incident has been compared with a similar challenge involving Lionel Messi earlier in the tournament, adding to the sense among some fans that the rules were applied inconsistently.
The USMNT overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina in a tense Round of 32 match at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, with Balogun opening the scoring before later being shown a red card in the 64th minute following a VAR review. The United States will now face Belgium in Seattle on Monday, 6 July 2026, but will have to do so without the forward.
After the review, officials determined that Balogun’s challenge on Tarik Muharemovic was serious enough to warrant a sending-off, with replays showing his studs catching high on the defender’s leg.
Earlier in the tournament, Messi was involved in a challenge that many felt looked strikingly similar during Argentina’s game against Algeria.
However, the 38-year-old avoided any dismissal, and that has added to the frustration among USA fans. Their anger grew even more after a former Premier League referee suggested Messi was fortunate not to be sent off.
Speaking to the Sun, Halsey said the World Cup winner should have been sent off.
“Listen, the referee, Marciniak was in an excellent position and I thought he refereed the game very well. But when you look at the incident, Messi did endanger the player’s safety, Aissa Mandi.
“When you look at the incident, the ball is not within playing distance so it’s not serious foul play.
“It has to be violent conduct because it comes down as a stamp. It’s classed as a stamp. I was really surprised that VAR didn’t recommend a review, especially when you go back to the opening game.”
Reaction online was swift, with fans and journalists highlighting what they saw as an inconsistent application of the rules.
Over on X, one USA fan wrote: “Messi didn’t get a red card for this. But, Balogun got a red card. Make it make sense, FIFA.”
And sports journalist Ben Jacobs wrote: “Two relatively similar incidents. Flo Balogun: red card. Lionel Messi: unpunished.”
A third posted: “Balogun was given a red card last night, pretty much ending his tournament. Meanwhile Messi didn’t even get a yellow card for this.”
Halsey added:
“”Mexico vs South Africa when Themba Zwane was adjudged to have committed an act of violent conduct and VAR recommended an on-field review to the Brazilian official. For me, that was never, ever violent conduct and VAR should not have gotten involved in that incident.
“But they get involved in that incident and they don’t get involved in this incident. It’s absolutely barmy. For me, I think Messi was a very, very lucky player because that stamp endangered the player’s safety.”
Some viewers thought Lionel Messi should have been sent off for this 🟥
What do you think? #FifaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Qdvc50KOv0
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 17, 2026
As for whether the United States can challenge Balogun’s suspension, the answer is no.
Speaking to the Guardian, a US Soccer spokesperson said there is an automatic one-game suspension for a straight red card. It cannot be appealed by the team.
The appeal process only comes in if the one game suspension is extended by the FIFA disciplinary committee.
That means Balogun will not only miss the clash with Belgium at Seattle’s Lumen Field, but he also will not be allowed on the bench and must instead watch from the stands.