{"id":215711,"date":"2026-07-02T13:42:40","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T13:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/usmnt-survives-controversial-balogun-red-to-beat-bosnia-at-world-cup-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T13:42:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T13:42:40","slug":"usmnt-survives-controversial-balogun-red-to-beat-bosnia-at-world-cup-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/usmnt-survives-controversial-balogun-red-to-beat-bosnia-at-world-cup-live-updates-and-reaction-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"USMNT survives controversial Balogun red to beat Bosnia at World Cup: Live updates and reaction – The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Cup
FIFA World
Cup 2026
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The United States saw off Bosnia and Herzegovina in its first World Cup knockout match despite a controversial red card for opening goalscorer Folarin Balogun.<\/strong>
The striker was sent off after inadvertently landing on a Bosnia defender\u2019s ankle and will now miss the round-of-16 clash with Belgium in Seattle on July 6<\/a>.
Balogun had earlier scored his third goal of the tournament to fire the USMNT into a first-half lead.
Malik Tillman then sent the 10-man U.S. into the next round when he curled home a delightful free kick late on.
GO FURTHER
USMNT into World Cup last 16 after beating Bosnia; Controversial red card clouds Balogun\u2019s heroics
Between Harry Kane<\/strong>\u2019s second-half heroics to help England<\/strong> advance, Belgium<\/strong>\u2019s stunning comeback against Senegal<\/strong> and the USMNT<\/strong>\u2019s dramatic escape against Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/strong>, today\u2019s slate set a high bar for entertainment.
Thankfully, Thursday\u2019s schedule has the potential to continue the run of great matches.
Spain<\/strong> is back in action with the day\u2019s first match against Austria<\/strong>, before Portugal<\/strong> and Croatia<\/strong> \u2013 teams ranked fifth and 11th by FIFA \u2013 face off in Toronto for a round of 16 spot.
The trio of matches will conclude with a clash between Switzerland<\/strong> and Algeria<\/strong> in Vancouver, and if Algeria\u2019s finale in the group stage is any indication, that one should be thrilling too.
What a day in store! Make sure you join us for every kick and whistle.
The U.S. can absolutely play with Belgium<\/strong> between the penalty boxes, as it did throughout the first half in March. But this group of U.S. players has struggled to match the ruthless, clinical finishing that sets apart top European teams.
The USMNT hasn\u2019t beaten one of those teams in more than a decade. And doing so without the suspended Folarin Balogun<\/strong> only ramps up the difficulty.
But the U.S. will also have its advantages. For significant chunks of all four of its games at this World Cup, Belgium has looked old and stagnant. The U.S. at the other end of the spectrum, overwhelmed Paraguay and Australia with its speed of play and pressing.
The Americans would be more athletic than Belgium at nearly every position on the field (except Jeremy Doku\u2019s), and could likely seize control of the game.
So all in all, the U.S. could yet win a second consecutive knockout match \u2014 something it\u2019s never done at the men\u2019s World Cup.
About 800 miles up the Pacific coast, and four hours earlier, Belgium <\/strong>stunned Senegal with a comeback from 2-0 down to reach the round of 16 and set up the rematch with the USMNT.
As Austin <\/em>mentioned, it\u2019s a rematch of the famous round-of-16 game in 2014. It\u2019s also a rematch of a friendly this past March, when Belgium ran away from the U.S. in the second half and won 5-2.
So at first glance, on paper, it\u2019s a difficult matchup for the Americans.
In that friendly, they succumbed to some of the same attacking quality that propelled Belgium\u2019s comeback. That quality will be the worry when the teams meet again Monday in Seattle.
A seminal moment in U.S. men\u2019s soccer history \u2014 and surely one of the first truly viral moments \u2014 came in 2014, when the USMNT faced Belgium <\/strong>at the World Cup in Brazil and the round of 16, 12 years ago today (well, yesterday if it\u2019s past midnight where you are).
The talented European side delivered an onslaught of shots throughout the 90 minutes, but goalkeeper Tim Howard turned in an all-time legendary performance, keeping Belgium off the scoresheet and the match goalless.
Belgium finally broke through in extra time and although the U.S. pulled one back late from Julian Green, it was not enough.
Howard finished with a World Cup record of 16 saves according to FIFA, although data provider Opta credits Howard with 15. The dispute came into focus recently when Curacao\u2019s Eloy Room made 15 saves in a group-stage draw with Ecuador at this tournament.
What\u2019s not in dispute is how Howard went viral after the match, with the internet flooded with memes about his \u201cprotection\u201d abilities and some even nicknaming him the \u201cSecretary of Defense.\u201d
The USMNT finally gets its shot at revenge against Belgium on Monday, this time on home soil in a Seattle venue that is one of the loudest stadiums on the continent.
Amazingly, both of Belgium\u2019s goalscorers in that game \u2014 Kevin De Bruyne<\/strong> and Romelu Lukaku<\/strong> \u2014 are still integral parts of their national team all these years later.
The U.S. entered today staring at the ominous face of history. It had lost all but one of the eight World Cup knockout matches it had ever played.
It had also lost its last 10 games against European opponents<\/a>, and hadn\u2019t beaten one in five years. Even though the U.S. was heavily favored, the stats contextualized the weight of the moment.
But this is a team fueled by belief, by dreams, by wanting to \u201ctouch the moon,\u201d as head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been saying<\/a>. History isn\u2019t a barrier. Unprecedented is anything but impossible.
The U.S. played slick and steady soccer, and slowly bent the game to its liking. For the first time, it bossed a World Cup knockout match.
The USMNT\u2019s lone previous knockout-round win occurred in the middle of the night back in 2002. It concluded around 4:30 a.m. ET. This one occurred with all of mainstream America watching.
It is therefore a night players and fans will never forget, even if it was only Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the lowest-ranked teams in the knockout round; and even if it was only the round of 32, with bigger and hopefully better things to come.
Malik Tillman\u2019s<\/strong> stunning free kick will live on for a long time in USMNT lore.
Down a man, with the clock ticking down and Bosnia beginning to pile on some pressure, the U.S. was awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Christian Pulisic wanted to take it but ultimately left Tillman and left footed Antonee Robinson standing over the ball.
There was no deception, no clever routine. Tillman put the ball down, took his strides back. Then he whipped his free kick over the wall and into the back of the net for a moment of sheer euphoria.
There\u2019s no doubt about it: Tillman\u2019s strike cemented the U.S.\u2019s place in the round of 16. Without it, and considering how the match had been tilting, who knows where things would have ended up?
It\u2019s a fitting man to seal the game, as Tillman\u2019s creativity and motor were crucial for the U.S. \u2014 and not just against Bosnia; he\u2019s been great the whole tournament.
MALIK TILLMAN FREE KICK GOLAZO AND THE @USMNT<\/a> IS UP 2-0 🇺🇸<\/p>\n

Advantage doubled even down to 10 men. pic.twitter.com\/HskiCro7xD<\/a>
Folarin Balogun<\/strong> scored the opening goal for the U.S. and was once again a constant, dangerous presence for the Americans through the first hour of the game.
Whereas the U.S. wasted chances four years ago, Balogun has been a consistent danger man in this World Cup. That continued into the knockout round. The Monaco striker had a goal called back for offside in the 31st minute, but then gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the 45th with a neat left-footed finish.
Balogun broke out LeBron James\u2019 \u201cSilencer\u201d celebration, which earned a tweet from the NBA legend.
The U.S. heavily recruited Balogun coming out of the Qatar tournament, with fans aiding in that chase with their all-out press on social media. Balogun has proven to be worth it, producing across his national team career.
The New York-born, London-raised striker now has three goals in this World Cup. However, will miss the round of 16 tie against Belgium, and Mauricio Pochettino will have to look to either Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright to lead the forward line.
This game changed completely in the second half when Folarin Balogun<\/strong>, who to that moment had been the best player for the U.S., was red carded in the 64th minute after video review of a foul on Tarik Muharemovic.
As the ball was played up the left sideline from Antonee Robinson, Balogun reached out and tried to get his body in position. As he did so, he landed on the back of the leg of Muharemovic, raking down the calf of the defender and landing on his ankle.
It did not look like an intentional foul but rather the forward landing awkwardly. The slow motion replay however, made it look like a harsh tackle. And there was no doubt Balogun made rough contact on the defender.
After looking at the foul, referee Raphael Claus opted to give the red card \u2014 immediately joining Hugh Dallas (vs. Germany, 2002) and Koman Koulibaly (vs. Slovenia, 2010) in the unofficial Infamous USMNT World Cup Referee Hall of Fame.
Weston McKennie<\/strong> was an unsung hero for the United States today and continued his strong play at this World Cup.
McKennie tallied five defensive line-breaking passes against Bosnia and Herzegovina, boosting his total to 13 across the tournament. That figure is the most by one player at the World Cup \u2014 and by a four-pass margin.
Several of the USMNT\u2019s opponents at this World Cup have preferred to sit back in a low block and play defensively.
Belgium with forwards like Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku and a legendary midfielder in Kevin De Bruyne, will look to be more creative in attack.
Chris Richards<\/strong> believes the U.S. can play in multiple styles and adapt to its opponent:
💬 \u201cThe first few games, we did well smothering the teams when it came to pressing. Then today, we showed the different side of us that sometimes it is OK to sit back and choose your moment. So we can play against different formations and styles, and still be successful.<\/em><\/strong>
\u201c(From Belgium) we expect physical players who are really skillful and at the top of their game. We\u2019re ultimately expecting a tough game against a really tough European opponent. But again, people have spoken about us against Europeans and we broke the (winless streak) tonight. So maybe it\u2019s our turn to try to make history.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Malik Tillman<\/strong>\u2019s free-kick goal in the 82nd minute tonight will be a top highlight of the United States\u2019 World Cup run, regardless of how far it extends from here.
It also has a spot in history. Tillman is the second USMNT player to score a direct free kick in a World Cup, after Eric Wynalda accomplished the same feat at the 1994 tournament \u2014 also on home soil.
As for the team perspective, the USMNT just became the first team at this World Cup to score a fourth goal from a set piece.
Haji Wright also said that Malik Tillman<\/strong> practices free kicks after every training session. Chris Richards added that he and other USMNT players use some technology to help with the practice.
Nobody seems surprised Tillman scored a beauty on this big stage.
Will Haji Wright<\/strong> get the gig in place of Folarin Balogun? Here is what Wright just said in the mixed zone:
💬 \u201cYeah, it\u2019s a shame that he\u2019s gonna miss the game. It\u2019s a tough decision to make in the heat of the moment. I think the stills look worse than it did in life but yeah, I\u2019m always ready, I\u2019m more than prepared to give my best for the team.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Chris Richards<\/strong> laughs when hearing Folarin Balogun<\/strong> is the first player to both score and get a red card in a World Cup game since Zinedine Zidane in that infamous 2006 World Cup final.
💬 \u201cPretty cool record, huh? … We told him we\u2019ve got his back. Again, we\u2019re a team of 26, not just one. Ultimately we\u2019re going to miss him for the next game, but we know that if it\u2019s (Ricardo) Pepi or Haji (Wright) or whoever the case is, they\u2019re going step up next, that they\u2019re gonna do their job just as well as he did. <\/em><\/strong>
\u201cI think one thing about this team is that we\u2019re really a big family, and we\u2019ve shown it this whole tournament.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
The United States<\/strong> overcame adversity, as we know! Its 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina <\/strong>also holds a spot in U.S. history.
It was only the second time the United States has won a knockout match, with the other coming against Mexico during the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Even better, this is the first time the U.S. has won three games in a single World Cup. Ever.
Terrific achievements for the USMNT in its run as a World Cup co-host.
There were a lot of doubts about this USMNT side\u2019s ability to make a run in this World Cup, particularly after a March friendly in which it lost 5-2 and completely fell apart defensively against the same Belgium side it will now face in the last 16 on Monday.
But this is a different USMNT that has arrived at this World Cup. If you ask Chris Richards<\/strong> though, this is always the team the players believed they could be.
💬 \u201cI think game by game, we started to prove people wrong and prove ourselves right. We knew we had it the whole time. It was just a matter of showing it. So I\u2019m glad it\u2019s coming out at this time.\u201d<\/em><\/strong>
Ending up on the wrong side of a World Cup knockout match is a disheartening result for Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/strong>, but there are positives to be found in its 2-0 loss.
Edin Dzeko<\/strong>\u2019s longevity certainly deserves a shoutout after his history-making start. Today Dzeko became the first outfield player aged 40 or older to play in a World Cup knockout match.
Dzeko did limp out of the match early in the second half and that may be that for his international career.
Cristiano Ronaldo <\/strong>and Luka Modric<\/strong> are both older than Dzeko, of course \u2014 and both will break Dzeko\u2019s record when Portugal faces Croatia in the round of 32 tomorrow.
The introduction of VAR has created situations such as Folarin Balogun<\/strong>\u2019s red card today.
He was dismissed for serious foul play, which deals with players who endanger the safety of an opponent. Historically, the law was invoked by referees when players went flying into tackles at high speed and out of control, without a moment\u2019s thought for the consequences.
Since we\u2019ve had video reviews, the focus has shifted to the point of contact. Slow motion replays and still images distort the offending player\u2019s actions, with innocuous tackles looking more serious.
By contrast, players who dive in off the ground with both feet, can escape red cards if they happen to miss their opponent.
Lionel Messi\u2019s potential red card for Argentina against Algeria was a classic example. There is no intensity in his challenge, but the still images were ugly and on another day he might have been sent off.
Balogun became a victim of this modern trend against Bosnia. His actions are all part of the normal rough and tumble of football. He is never out of control and the contact is accidental.
But the replays make for grim viewing, as Tarik Muharemovic<\/strong>\u2019s ankle buckles and he is clearly in distress \u2014 no simulation here.
I would prefer tackles like this to produce cautions at worst. Messi was let off completely, and there is nothing reckless about Balogun\u2019s actions either.
In the spirit of the law, Balogun was unlucky. But in its recent interpretation, a red card was inevitable.
Folarin Balogun<\/strong>\u2019s eventful performance today put him in historic company, for reasons both positive and negative.
Per Opta, Balogun is one of three players in USMNT<\/strong> history to score three goals at a World Cup \u2014 joining Landon Donovan (2010) and Bert Patenaude (1930). With one more goal, he would tie Patenaude\u2019s U.S. benchmark of four.
Balogun also joined accomplished company in another metric, but for an unfortunate reason. He is the fourth player to both score a goal and receive a red card in a World Cup knockout match \u2014 and the first to do so since Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final.
Ronaldinho in Brazil\u2019s 2002 quarterfinal and Garrincha in the 1962 semifinals also checked both boxes in knockout matches.
Team Stats
USA
BIH
Game Details<\/p>\n

source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World CupFIFA WorldCup 2026AdvertisementThe United States saw off Bosnia and Herzegovina in its first World Cup knockout match despite a controversial red card for opening goalscorer Folarin Balogun.The striker was sent off after inadvertently landing on a Bosnia defender\u2019s ankle and will now miss the round-of-16 clash with Belgium in Seattle on July 6.Balogun had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215712,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-215711","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}