Folarin Balogun scores then sees red as USMNT stumbles against Bosnia

Folarin Balogun scored the opening goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then received a red card following a VAR review, all in the first half. The Americans spent the majority of the match with ten men.

What happened on the pitch

Balogun found the net to give the US the lead. Then came the VAR review, which confirmed the decision to dismiss the player who had just put his team ahead.

The red card left head coach Mauricio Pochettino with a lineup puzzle that had no clean solution.

Why Balogun’s absence stings more than most

Balogun is the primary goal threat and the player the USMNT’s attacking structure is increasingly built around. His performances with Monaco at the club level have reinforced his quality translating to the international game.

The USMNT is building toward the 2026 World Cup, which the United States co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico.

Tim Weah’s dismissal during the 2024 Copa América is a reference point that adds to a pattern of disciplinary issues involving key players in high-stakes settings.

What this means looking ahead

Balogun will likely miss time through suspension, and the USMNT will need to find attacking production from elsewhere in the squad during that window.

Pochettino took over the USMNT with a mandate to build a cohesive, tactically disciplined side capable of competing at a home World Cup. Balogun’s goal against Bosnia was a reminder of why the team relies on him so heavily as a scorer, but the red card is a reminder that talent and decision-making are separate skills.

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