Folarin Balogun knew ban overturn would ‘cause a lot of controversy’, says it impacted USMNT teammates

Key Points:

• U.S. forward Folarin Balogun expressed mixed feelings after his red card suspension was overturned by FIFA during the World Cup, acknowledging the controversy and its impact on team nerves ahead of their round-of-16 loss to Belgium.
• Balogun was initially sent off for a "serious foul" after a tussle with a Bosnia defender, a decision he described as shocking and unintentional, leading U.S. Soccer to successfully appeal the suspension despite no formal appeal process.
• The reversal became highly controversial after former President Donald Trump admitted to calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review, though he denied pressuring the decision.
• The U.S. team learned of Balogun’s reinstatement via media reports on a bus en route to training, causing confusion but ultimately allowing him to rejoin the squad for the Belgium match, which the U.S. lost 4-1.
• Despite the defeat halting U.S. momentum, Balogun felt proud of the team’s ability to unite the country and inspire new fans, emphasizing the special experience of participating in the tournament.