Will Folarin Balogun be suspended? USMNT star's status vs Belgium after red card

The United States men's national team has advanced to the 2026 World Cup round of 16, but it will have to play that game without one of its top stars.

It will be the U.S. vs. Belgium on Monday, July 6, and the USMNT is set to be without Folarin Balogun after he was dealt a red card in the round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun was going for the ball against Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic in the 64th minute and stepped on his ankle, with both players going down to the ground. As both players were attended to, the referee reviewed the play and determined Balogun deserved a red card for the infringement.

Balogun was sent off in a controversial decision that has drawn plenty of outrage, and it has ramifications for the next U.S. match, per FIFA red card rules.

Will Folarin Balogun miss round of 16 vs. Belgium?

According to FIFA rules, Balogun will be unavailable for the round of 16 match against Belgium.

FIFA rules state if a player gets a red card, not only is he removed from the game, but he must also sit out the team’s next match automatically, no matter what round it is. Its disciplinary committee will review the situation and can add more games to the suspension or issue a fine if the offense was serious enough. Teams can only appeal if more games are added to the suspension.

What USA coach, players said of Folarin Balogun red card

Balogun's coach and teammates defended him, with many believing the action didn't warrant a red card.

"That was a normal action in football," USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said. "That happened by accident and it's never intentional."

Tyler Adams offered the point of view that when a replay is slowed down, "it's always going to look worse." He added the decision "seems so harsh." Christian Pulisic said he and teammates tried to encourage Balogun afterward, letting him know they have his back for the Belgium match.

"Just watching it now, it's just disappointing," Pulisic said. "He's just trying to put his foot on the ground and it wasn't high on his leg. It's just so unfortunate."

Richards said he didn't see the play unfold, but there wasn't much communication about the review until it went to video assistance, when Balogun was dealt the red card.

"It is what it is," Richards said.

World Cup knockout round format

The World Cup becomes a single-elimination tournament once the knockout stage begins. The 32 remaining teams have been placed into a bracket, and the field will halve itself during each ensuing round of the tournament until a winner is crowned.

The lone exception is that the two semifinal losers will play in a third-place game ahead of the World Cup final.

Which teams are in the World Cup round of 16?

After three games, here are the teams through to the round of 16. Additional teams will advance as games are played throughout the week.

• Canada
• Brazil
• Paraguay
• Morocco
• Norway
• France
• Mexico
• England
• Belgium
• United States

Full World Cup round of 16 bracket, knockout round matchups, schedule

Round of 16

• July 4: Paraguay vs. France - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia - shop tickets
• July 4: Canada vs. Morocco - Houston - shop tickets
• July 5: Brazil vs. Norway - East Rutherford - shop tickets
• July 5: Mexico vs. England- Mexico City - shop tickets
• July 6: Portugal/Croatia vs. Spain/Austria - Arlington - shop tickets
• July 6: USA vs. Belgium- Seattle - shop tickets
• July 7: Argentina/Cape Verde vs. Australia/Egypt - Atlanta - shop tickets
• July 7: Switzerland/Algeria vs. Colombia/Ghana. - Vancouver - shop tickets

Quarterfinals

• July 9: PAR/FRA vs. CAN/MRC - Foxborough
• July 10: POR/CRO/ESP/AUT vs. USA/BEL- Inglewood
• July 11: BRA/NOR vs. MEX/ENG- Miami
• July 11: ARG/CV/AUS/EGY vs. SWI/ALG/COL/GHA - Kansas City

Semifinals

• July 14: Foxborough/Inglewood winners - Arlington
• July 15: Miami/Kansas City winners - Atlanta

Final

• July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Nancy Armour contributed to this story.