Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia has come out in support of United States striker Folarin Balogun after their World Cup round-of-16 match in Seattle. Ahead of the encounter, much of the discussion centred around FIFA’s contentious decision to lift Balogun’s red card suspension, a move that drew sharp criticism before Belgium claimed a comprehensive 4-1 victory.

Balogun red card controversy

Balogun’s availability became a major talking point when FIFA unexpectedly overturned his one-match suspension, originally imposed after he was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The ruling sparked strong objections from the Belgian Football Federation and several international commentators, who argued that it set a dangerous and inconsistent precedent for the tournament. Despite being cleared to play, Balogun’s inclusion could not prevent the host nation from suffering a heavy defeat.

Garcia defends the opposition forward

Addressing the media after the match, Garcia expressed that he bore no ill feelings toward Balogun and commended the American forward’s professionalism. He said, “Balogun came to speak to me, and I appreciated that. It’s not his fault; he’s not the one to blame. I told him that. I respect that he came to talk to me.”

Garcia also dismissed suggestions that the controversy surrounding Balogun served as additional motivation for his players. “It wasn’t needed or necessary in terms of motivation,” he remarked. “What mattered most to us was our own game plan. We wanted to impose ourselves; the U.S. team is energetic and full of intensity. We didn’t need Kevin [De Bruyne]; we scored our goals.”

‘It didn’t really surprise me’

After the match, Balogun broke his silence about the situation that overshadowed his preparation for the crucial fixture. The USMNT forward emphasised that his focus remained on performing his duties on the pitch. He explained, “When you get a red card, usually the rule is that you don’t play the next game. So when that decision was reversed, naturally it caused controversy. It didn’t really surprise me that much. But as a player, my job is to go out there and focus on playing. I’m disappointed that we couldn’t get the win today.”

He continued, “I accepted the decision when I was shown the red card, and I accepted it again when I was told I could play. There’s not much more I can say on the matter. That said, Belgium were the better side today. They played much better than we did.”

Spain await Belgium in the quarter-finals

Belgium’s emphatic win in Seattle secures their place in the World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face reigning European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday, July 10. The outstanding performances of two-goal hero Charles De Ketelaere and the return to scoring form of Romelu Lukaku have given Garcia’s team vital momentum. The Red Devils will now aim to sustain their commanding form to counter Spain’s attacking prowess and move closer to a semi-final berth.