Folarin Balogun has spoken candidly about the "unfortunate" events that placed the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) at the centre of a political storm during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The forward admitted that his teammates were visibly unsettled by the external attention following the dramatic reversal of his red card suspension by FIFA, a decision that preceded the USMNT’s 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16.

Controversy grips the USMNT camp

The Monaco striker had initially been sent off in the round-of-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, but FIFA’s disciplinary committee controversially overturned the decision, allowing him to feature in the next knockout fixture against Belgium.

The ruling quickly became a flashpoint for criticism amid allegations of political interference. Reflecting on the atmosphere within the camp, Balogun told CBS, “My first reaction was happiness to return to the team, but as I thought about it more, I knew it would create a lot of controversy. I could sense a bit of nervousness among my teammates because the situation was so unusual.”

Political involvement and IOC complaint

The issue escalated further when human rights organisation FairSquare lodged a formal complaint with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of breaching political neutrality. The complaint followed remarks from U.S. President Donald Trump, who admitted to personally intervening in an attempt to ensure the home side’s star forward could play in the knockout rounds.

Balogun admitted that the external scrutiny was difficult to ignore as the team prepared for their elimination match against Belgium. “As the game got closer, I tried my best to stay focused, but it was hard. There was a lot of external noise, and avoiding that was challenging,” said the former Arsenal player.

Dispute over the original red card

Despite the surrounding controversy, Balogun remains firm in his belief that he should never have been shown a red card for his challenge on Tarik Muharemovic. The striker insists the incident was accidental and that the referee’s decision was incorrect, adding unnecessary pressure on the American side in their home tournament.

Recalling the moment, he said, “I was stunned. It wasn’t even a tackle. I think everyone could see my reaction — I was completely shocked. But I had to accept the referee’s call and support my teammates. When something isn’t intentional, it shouldn’t be a red card. It was just an unfortunate situation that added pressure we didn’t need.”

Support from teammates proved crucial

Though he was aware of the anxiety within the squad, Balogun credited his teammates for helping him through one of the most difficult phases of his international career. He emphasised that the backing he received in the dressing room played a key role in maintaining his confidence before the Belgium match. “My teammates offered me a lot of reassurance,” he said. “It wasn’t something I could control — it was just an unfortunate situation — but their support gave me confidence.”

Despite the internal solidarity, the USMNT were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Belgium. However, Balogun still concluded the tournament on a personal high note, scoring three goals in four appearances.