Pochettino slams Balogun red card as USA face Belgium witho…
Pochettin: Balogun red card was never a red card
USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino insists Folarin Balogun’s sending-off against Belgium was a VAR error, leaving the USA without their top scorer in a must-win World Cup knockout tie.
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino labeled Folarin Balogun’s red card in the World Cup Round of 16 as “never a red card,” a decision that stripped the USA of their top scorer for the must-win clash against Belgium. The controversial call came during a 1-0 defeat to Belgium in Houston, where Balogun was shown a straight red for a second yellow in the 59th minute after VAR review. The USA, already under pressure, lost 1-0 and exited the tournament without Balogun’s finishing, which had netted three goals in four pre-tournament friendlies.
The red card hinged on a challenge with Axel Witsel. Pochettino argued the contact was minimal and did not warrant a booking, let alone dismissal. “It was never a red card,” Pochettino told reporters post-match.
“The referee and VAR got it wrong. ” The USA entered the knockout stage with momentum, but the loss leaves their 2026 World Cup path uncertain. Balogun’s absence was felt immediately.
The USA managed just two shots on target against Belgium, a team that had conceded only two goals in their previous five matches. The defeat capped a tournament where the USMNT’s attacking output fell short of expectations, scoring just twice in four matches. Pochettino’s frustration underscores a broader issue: VAR’s role in knockout football, where marginal decisions can erase a team’s World Cup ambitions.
FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, defended the decision, stating that the VAR had correctly identified the second yellow card. “The laws are clear,” Collina said. ” Yet the controversy lingers, with Pochettino calling for a review of VAR protocols to allow appeals on red cards.
The officiating debate isn’t just about this single card. In the Round of 16 alone, VAR decisions have overturned two goals across other matches, including a tight offside call in the England-Slovenia tie. The inconsistency in application—where marginal fouls in one match go unpunished while similar challenges draw cards in another—fuels accusations of a lack of uniformity.
Pochettino’s public stance reflects a growing sentiment among coaches: that VAR, while intended to improve fairness, is now a source of unpredictability that disproportionately impacts underdog teams with less margin for error. The USMNT’s exit also exposes deeper tactical vulnerabilities. Belgium exploited the USA’s high press by targeting the space behind the defensive line, where Balogun’s pace would have been decisive.
Without him, the Americans struggled to create clear chances, managing just 12 passes into the final third—a stark drop from their average of 28 in the group stage. The defeat raises questions about the team’s adaptability in knockout football, where a single tactical tweak can neutralize an entire system. The VAR controversy now risks overshadowing the broader narrative of the USMNT’s World Cup cycle.
Despite finishing top of their group with a resilient 1-1 draw against England and a 1-0 win over Iran, the team’s attacking limitations were laid bare in Houston. The reliance on Balogun’s individual brilliance masked deeper issues in build-up play and final-third creativity, which Belgium’s disciplined structure ruthlessly exposed. The red card didn’t just remove a player; it exposed a tactical ceiling that the USMNT must address before 2026.
Pochettino’s insistence on VAR reform isn’t just about this match. The USMNT’s 2026 campaign will demand consistency in officiating, particularly in CONCACAF’s congested qualifiers where tight results are common. If marginal decisions continue to swing games, the federation may need to lobby FIFA for clearer protocols—or risk seeing their ambitions derailed by avoidable officiating errors.
FIFA’s Collina has long championed VAR as a tool for accuracy, but the system’s perceived fallibility in high-stakes moments risks eroding its credibility. The Belgium match wasn’t an isolated incident; it was a microcosm of a tournament where VAR’s interventions have repeatedly sparked debate. For the USMNT, the lesson is clear: adapt or be left vulnerable to the whims of a system that often favors the established powers.
What’s next: The USA’s focus shifts to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they must regroup after a bitter exit. Pochettino’s demand for VAR reform could gain traction, but for now, the federation faces pressure to address the officiating debate before it undermines the team’s long-term progress. FIFA will review VAR protocols ahead of the next World Cup cycle, but the immediate fallout for the USMNT is a roster reshuffle.
With Balogun suspended and their attack stalled, the team must rethink its approach to elite-level finishing and defensive transitions. The 2026 qualifiers begin in less than a year—time is short to turn this setback into a lesson. Read at Independent Sport
Why this matters
A single VAR decision cost the USA their top scorer and World Cup knockout hopes. The controversy exposes flaws in officiating that could haunt the USMNT’s 2026 campaign if unaddressed. Pochettino’s public push for VAR appeals highlights a growing divide between coaches and referees, threatening to overshadow the team’s progress. The inconsistency in VAR’s application—where marginal decisions swing matches—undermines the integrity of the tournament and risks eroding fan trust in the game’s fairness. The USMNT’s tactical vulnerabilities, masked by Balogun’s individual brilliance, now demand urgent solutions before the 2026 cycle.
Frequently asked
What was the exact incident leading to Balogun’s red card?
Balogun received a second yellow card for a challenge on Axel Witsel in the 59th minute. Pochettino argued the contact was minimal and did not warrant a booking.
How many goals did Balogun score before the red card?
Balogun scored three goals in four pre-tournament friendlies but was sent off before playing any World Cup minutes.
Did FIFA or VAR officials respond to Pochettino’s criticism?
FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, defended the decision, stating the VAR correctly identified the second yellow card under existing laws.
What are Pochettino’s demands regarding VAR?
Pochettino called for rule changes to allow appeals on red cards, arguing that officiating errors can derail teams’ World Cup ambitions.
How did the USA perform in the World Cup before the Belgium match?
The USA won their group with two draws and a loss, scoring just twice in four matches. They exited the tournament after the 1-0 defeat to Belgium.
How many shots on target did the USA have against Belgium?
The USA managed just two shots on target against Belgium, a team that had conceded only two goals in their previous five matches.
