Folarin Balogun has already moved on from his red card, and backs the USMNT to do the same
"There’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid," he said of the controversial ejection. "I have to accept it, but the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
SEATTLE — Folarin Balogun still isn’t happy about the red card he was given in Wednesday’s U.S. World Cup win, but he isn’t lingering on it.
“I feel calm right now, I feel OK,” the striker said at Friday’s practice, his first time speaking with the media since the ejection. “We’re going to go out to practice, and always, being on the practice fields just helps me to take my mind off things. So, yeah, for me, you know, it’s another day.”
FIFA’s rules don’t allow appeals of red cards, and the nature of the incident meant an appeal very likely would not have won despite Balogun’s lack of intent. At least there won’t be any additional suspension, which U.S. Soccer and FIFA confirmed Friday.
“If you played the game, you would understand, there’s scenarios that you simply can’t avoid, and it has to be taken into context when it’s being reviewed,” Balogun said. “I felt it wasn’t on this occasion. I think, as you all saw, there’s nowhere else to put your leg — it’s going to be unavoidable.”
He acknowledged the wide range of opinions out there, and concluded that “a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward, and I have to accept it, but the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
Balogun also admitted he had “a roller coaster” of emotions in the wake of the incident, but he returned to the goal of staying calm in a heated moment.
» READ MORE: Malik Tillman’s heroics helped the USMNT survive Folarin Balogun’s red card and make World Cup history
“I’ve been upset, I’ve been happy — it’s been surreal, to be honest,” he said of a game where he also scored the opening goal. “But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it’s unjust.”
After the final whistle Wednesday, Balogun returned to the field to shake hands with Brazilian referee Raphael Claus. That was a nice gesture of sportsmanship, and one Balogun said he tries to make after every game he plays.
Flo Balogun on the field with his USMNT teammates after the match and shook the hands of all referees. Didn’t linger or seem to protest.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) July 1, 2026 at 7:08 PM
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“Even though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it’s not an excuse to be disrespectful, or to not do the right thing,” he said. “The most important thing for me is to give the correct example to people watching. I’m aware that the World Cup might be the first time a lot of American viewers are tuning in, so it’s important just to show people, whether things happen to you good or bad, just to continue to be yourself.”
» READ MORE: Philly’s final World Cup game is going to be hot. Here’s how fans can beat the heat.
For now, he will be the team’s biggest fan, hoping that Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright can step in and help the Americans topple Belgium in Monday’s round of 16 contest — the biggest game in U.S. men’s soccer history (8 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).
“Just to support the boys, support the team,” Balogun said. “I love seeing how engaged the country is in our journey, and what we’re doing. So I think my role is just to continue to support everybody, to keep morale high.”
A baseball diversion
The U.S. team was to be honored at Friday night’s Seattle Mariners game, with manager Mauricio Pochettino throwing out the first pitch.
With that in mind, one of the first warmup exercises at U.S. practice was a round of long toss among some of the players. Tim Ream, Matt Turner, Weston McKennie, and Alejandro Zendejas passed around balls and gloves provided by the University of Washington’s baseball program, whose stadium is next door to the soccer field where the Americans trained.
» READ MORE: Watching the World Cup ‘got him out of bed in the morning.’ Now, this 9-year-old is going to a game.
Texas natives McKennie and Zendejas hammed it up a bit for the cameras, the former doing his best Nolan Ryan impression with windups and throws to the latter. Zendejas tried his luck at a catcher-style crouch for a while, then thought better of it and took the rest on one knee.
Pochettino also got some practice in Friday morning, with Turner offering some tips on technique.
Balogun was born in New York but grew up in London, so he likely knows more about cricket than America’s bat-and-ball sport. But he certainly relished the invitation to take in this country’s pastime, and the chance for a little fun in a serious week.
“I think that sort of stuff can only happen in America,” he said. " I’m very, very proud — this is a very unique experience for me, being in the World Cup in your home nation. And yeah, I think you’re seeing, we’ve been able to be so focused, but at the same time have so many things we can do to distract ourselves, and to take our mind off the high-pressure environment.”
In this World Cup, underdogs are stealing the spotlight, the U.S. men are on a roll, and Philadelphia has not only welcomed the world but has given visitors a crash course on just how real the curse of the Rocky Statue can be.
Join Jonathan Tannenwald, the Inquirer's soccer writer, and host Lisa Carlin, analyst for CBS Sports Golazo, as they dissect the matches, the moments, and more as Philly has its moment in soccer's brightest spotlight. Watch our latest episode right here.
Watch previous episodes:
Episode 1: The Wait is Over!
Episode 2: Groups, Goals, and Glory
Episode 3: Electric Action in Philly
Episode 4: The Knockout Rounds Begin!
