The USMNT's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 was bittersweet for fans as the result means they have won their first knockout stage match since 2002, but what is ahead alarms them.
The win means that Team USA will play Belgium in the Round of 16 at Seattle Stadium, but they will play the European team without their top goalscorer in the 2026 World Cup.
Folarin Balgoun, who scored his third goal of the tournament last night against Bosnia and Herzegovina, received a straight red card, which sees him face a one-game suspension.
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
The controversial call is causing massive debate about whether it should have been a red card. Fans are asking for US Soccer to appeal the decision before the Belgium game.
Why Folarin Balogun's Red Card Cannot Be Appealed
On the Call It What You Want Podcast, former FIFA referee Christina Unkel was asked if US Soccer could potentially appeal the red card Folarin Balogun received last night.
Unkel said an appeal will likely be denied, especially given the context of the red card.
Unkel said, "It's a subjective decision that they are appealing. The referee's discretion as to speed, force, and point of contact. You only typically win [appeals] on objective matters. Here, because you can debate between a red and yellow card, you're not going to win an appeal even if you file one."
