According to Donald Trump, he personally reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to advocate for overturning Balogun’s red card. Ultimately, the striker was reinstated and cleared to play, sparking intense outrage within the Belgian Football Association.

Despite Balogun starting against the Red Devils, the USMNT was thoroughly defeated and eliminated from the World Cup. Reflecting after the match, the striker, after apologizing to USA’s fans over the elimination, admitted that the controversy surrounding his presence on the pitch may have negatively impacted the team’s focus and performance.

“I could almost see within my teammates a bit of nerves because it was something that’s so unique,“ Balogun told CBS on Tuesday. “But the closer we got to the game, I tried to just focus as best as I could.”

“When something is not intentional … it should never be a red card. So it was just an unfortunate situation and I think, you know, it put a lot more pressure on us than we needed. “

Belgium showed no mercy to the USMNT

Following FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s suspension, the Belgian camp was left in complete disbelief. Several players voiced their frustration publicly before taking their answer directly to the pitch.

Belgium dominated the USMNT in a 4-1 victory and appeared determined to push the scoreline even higher. After the match, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois went as far as claiming that Senegal had provided a tougher test, making no secret of his disgust over Balogun’s reinstatement.

While Belgium was eventually eliminated by Spain in the quarterfinals, supporters of the Red Devils viewed the statement victory over the USA as a massive point of pride—overcoming pre-match controversy to deliver a commanding performance on the pitch.

Balogun didn’t make an impact vs Belgium

Belgium complained vocally about Balogun’s reinstatement, given his strong 2026 World Cup campaign. However, the striker made virtually no impact during their Round of 16 clash against the Red Devils, who mocked the USMNT during the game.

Balogun played all 90 minutes without registering a single shot on target. He finished with a modest 6.3 rating on Sofascore, reflecting the heavy burden and scrutiny surrounding his high-profile reintegration.

Pulisic was forced off in the 59th minute after colliding with a Belgian defender while attempting to shoot on goal. The AC Milan star immediately showed signs of discomfort and was unable to continue.

According to the USMNT, subsequent medical examinations revealed that the injury is less severe than initially feared, offering encouraging news for both the player and his club ahead of the 2026-27 season.

What happened to Christian Pulisic in 2026 World Cup?

Christian Pulisic suffered a bone bruise and a microfracture during the USA loss against Belgium in Seattle. This is the full report from the USMNT after medical examinations.

“Christian Pulisic has been diagnosed with a microfracture and bone bruise of the tibia/fibula in his right leg suffered during the match against Belgium. U.S. Soccer and AC Milan will be collaborating on his recovery plan.”

Pulisic’s injury occurred during a promising attacking move for the USMNT. As he prepared to strike the ball toward goal, his foot made contact with the foot of a Belgian opponent. The impact immediately affected his ability to continue, and he was eventually substituted in the 59th minute.

How serious is Christian Pulisic’s injury?

According to a report from The Athletic, this is Pulisic’s projected recovery timeline: “The estimated timeframe for Pulisic’s recovery puts him on track to return sometime in August, meaning he could be back in training ahead of the new Serie A season.”

The diagnosis comes as reassuring news for Pulisic and AC Milan, as there had been concerns that the injury could be much more serious and potentially threaten the beginning of his 2026-27 club season.

Among many things, Pulisic made a promise, calling this lesson only the beginning for the sport of soccer in the United States. Although Pulisic downplayed the injury he suffered against Belgium, he did admit disappointment with how the 2026 World Cup ended.

That same disappointment was echoed by U.S. icon Landon Donovan regarding Pulisic’s performance. Still, after taking a few days to process and digest a packed summer, Pulisic took to social media with a message for the fans and the rest of the world.

“Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believe. The support carried us all the way through. It simply wasn’t good enough from us in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more,” Pulisic’s message on his Instagram read. “I still feel blessed to be a part of this team. The memories this summer will last a lifetime. It’s just the start for us and for this sport in America.”

Pulisic’s numbers at 2026 World Cup

Pulisic appeared in four games at the 2026 World Cup. He didn’t complete any of them. Although it must be noted he played 87 minutes in the Round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, so he virtually played the full 90 minutes. In the remaining three, however, he was either subbed off with an injury (against Paraguay and Belgium) or subbed in (against Turkiye). Through those four appearances, Pulisic recorded only one assist.

In soccer, however, great performances may be lost in the stat sheet. In Pulisic’s case, he did put together a great first half against Paraguay in the tournament opener. However, he was subbed off at halftime with a lower-body setback, and that was essentially all she wrote for his campaign.

Pulisic didn’t come close to matching that level for the rest of the 2026 World Cup, and it was extremely painful as a nation rallied behind the USMNT while its biggest star looked a gear off.

Focus shifts onto next World Cup

There’s nothing to be done now, and the USMNT must shift its focus to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and World Cup qualifiers, as the next World Cup won’t be until 2030, and the USA isn’t guaranteed to make it.

Pulisic will be 31 at the 2030 World Cup. There’s a scenario in which it could be his last or second to last. Either way, his opportunities are running short, and he squandered his best yet.

As he mentioned that soccer is only writing its first chapters in the USA, he will surely want to have a bigger say in them going forward. Or maybe he will only plant the seed of a tree he won’t see blossom—at least not as a USMNT player.

It’s too late for the USA now. Although the USMNT will receive prize money for reaching the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, it will be little consolation for the broken hearts across the country. Among those left disappointed and hoping for better from Pulisic and the Stars and Stripes was legendary forward Landon Donovan.

“In the end, [Pulisic] is your best player, he is your star, and it just didn’t happen for him. It’s just disappointing. I was waiting for a moment from him, something special, something spectacular, and it just didn’t happen,” Donovan said in a recent episode of his podcast, Unfiltered Soccer, with Tim Howard.

Injuries doomed Pulisic’s World Cup

After a great first half against Paraguay in the tournament opener, Pulisic was subbed off at halftime with a lower-body injury. He went on to miss the game against Australia before appearing in the second half of the USMNT’s loss to Turkiye to close out Group D.

Pulisic played against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, but his performance flew under the radar. Instead, striker Folarin Balogun and German-born midfielder Malik Tillman stole the spotlight and led the Stars and Stripes to victory. One of the players born outside the United States led the USMNT to the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

However, that would be as far as the United States would go, despite playing at home and having FIFA cancel Balogun’s red-card suspension, amid an admission from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that U.S. President Donald Trump called about the suspension. Pulisic was subbed off during the Round of 16 game against Belgium, in which the Stars and Stripes suffered their worst loss in a long time, sounding the death knell for their hopes and dreams at the 2026 World Cup.

What’s next?

From now on, the USMNT will have to watch as the tournament unfolds on home soil, while Pulisic will bear the weight of harsh criticism from sea to shining sea. With the United States eliminated, they will have to wait for the next World Cup, which will be in 2030. For the time being, there’s much work to be done.

The next two World Cup editions already have confirmed hosts. The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. In addition, special opening matches will be played in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay to commemorate the centennial of the tournament.

For 2034, FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host nation. That means the next World Cup host still to be announced is the 2038 edition. That’s when things could get interesting.

Why is 2038 the first realistic opportunity for USA?

FIFA’s rotation rules are a key factor in determining which confederations can bid for future World Cups. Under the current system, confederations generally must wait two World Cup cycles, or eight years, after hosting the tournament before they can submit another bid.

This has major implications for the 2038 World Cup. UEFA, CAF, and CONMEBOL would be ineligible because Europe, Africa, and South America are all involved in hosting the 2030 tournament.

The AFC would also be ineligible because Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup. That leaves CONCACAF and OFC as the only confederations with a realistic path to bidding for 2038.

Could the USA host the 2038 World Cup?

Yes, the United States could be one of the strongest candidates to host the 2038 FIFA World Cup. At the moment, there is no official bid or confirmed plan for the United States to host the tournament again.

However, the country’s extensive sports infrastructure, large stadiums, transportation networks, hotel capacity, and experience from hosting major international events would make it a natural contender if CONCACAF decides to pursue the 2038 edition.

A joint bid with Mexico?

One possible scenario is another joint bid involving the United States and Mexico. The two nations are already collaborating on the 2026 World Cup, and that partnership could provide a model for another regional bid in the future.

Another possibility is that the United States and Mexico could pursue separate bids, creating a competition between the two CONCACAF powers for the right to host the 2038 tournament.

Why would the USA have an advantage for 2038 World Cup?

If the United States pursues the 2038 World Cup, it would likely enter the process as one of the favorites. The country already has the infrastructure required to host a tournament of this scale, including world-class stadiums, transportation systems, hotel capacity, and commercial support. Hosting the 2026 World Cup will also provide valuable organizational experience that could strengthen a future bid.

Could Oceania also bid?

Oceania is the other confederation theoretically eligible to bid for the 2038 World Cup. However, there is currently no formal plan for Australia or New Zealand to host the tournament in 2038. Without a confirmed Oceania bid, CONCACAF appears to be in a very strong position for the next available hosting cycle.

So when could the USA host another World Cup?

The earliest realistic opportunity for the United States to host another FIFA World Cup would be 2038. No official host has been announced for that tournament yet, but FIFA’s rotation rules and the confirmed hosts for 2030 and 2034 make 2038 the first edition in which CONCACAF nations, including the United States, could realistically compete for hosting rights. If selected, the United States would host the World Cup for a third time, following the 1994 tournament and the 2026 co-hosted edition.

“My debut World Cup… it hurts to wait four years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. I want to say sorry to our fans. It was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down,” Balogun wrote on X after the final whistle, reflecting on the team’s elimination.

Balogun’s appearance against Belgium had already become one of the tournament’s biggest talking points after FIFA overturned his suspension ahead of the knockout match. Although the striker returned to the starting lineup, he was unable to influence the game as Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals with a convincing victory.

Balogun apologizes after the United States’ World Cup exit

Following the defeat, which led Belgium to USA and FIFA, Balogun thanked supporters while expressing confidence that American soccer will continue to grow despite the disappointing result. “Soccer in America will only become bigger. The belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us.”

He also added, “The future belongs to those who never stop believing. This moment will fuel us. We will be back. Why not us? For the nation. For the flag.” Belgium controlled much of the Round of 16 contest, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring twice before Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku completed the 4-1 victory.

Balogun’s participation remained a major talking point

The decision generated widespread discussion ahead of the Round of 16 after reports of a phone call from Donald Trump to Gianni Infantino regarding Balogun’s red card, while Mauricio Pochettino publicly celebrated the striker’s availability.

FIFA later fined Balogun after the case was reviewed, although the FIFA Disciplinary Committee explained why Balogun could play against Belgium despite the disciplinary proceedings.

In the end, the controversy surrounding Balogun’s participation was overshadowed by Belgium’s dominant performance, which ended the United States’ World Cup campaign.

“Pulisic will be important for us, I believe in him,” the new manager said via Fabrizio Romano on X. Which team was Captain America linked with? Rumors suggested that MLS side New York City had set their sights on him.

Pulisic has been a key figure for the Rossoneri in recent years, and now, under this new management, he will once again lead the attack. Amorim, who arrives for this new challenge in Serie A, also wants to retain Luka Modric: “I want Modrić to stay, I spoke to Luka and if needed… I will go get him in person! I want Modrić with us this season.”

Both players had active roles in the World Cup, with Team USA being eliminated in the Round of 16, while The Vatreni were knocked out in the Round of 32. Will Amorim ultimately be able to keep them together at AC Milan for a little longer?

What is Pulisic’s injury status?

The heavy defeat suffered by the USMNT against Belgium, a 4-1 loss, not only resulted in their elimination but also saw Christian Pulisic leave the field with an injury. “I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” he revealed.

At the time, manager Mauricio Pochettino decided to sub the player off to avoid worsening the situation. Now, with more time to rest and a good recovery, everything indicates that Pulisic will be available for his club soon.

Pulisic’s numbers at AC Milan

Christian Pulisic officially arrived at AC Milan on July 13, 2023, transferring from Chelsea. Since making his debut with the Rossoneri, the American winger has become a key figure in the squad, completing 100 appearances and scoring 31 goals in Serie A play.

Although the final chapter stains the overall story, the United States laid the groundwork for more—and better—World Cup appearances in the future. Moreover, the USMNT is taking home a significant financial reward for its effort on home soil.

Needless to say, it doesn’t come close to how much the Americans could’ve earned had they reached the later stages, but it’s far from peanuts and pocket change, either.

As reported by USMNT insider Larry Henry Jr., the United States Men’s National Team is set to receive $16 million for their participation in the 2026 World Cup, in which they reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Belgium.

Prize money distribution

The funds are sent to the national soccer federations, not directly to the players. In this case, the U.S. Soccer Federation receives the $16 million prize for the USMNT’s elimination in the second round of the knockout stage.

As reported by Henry Jr., the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in place within the federation states that half of the prize money will be allocated to the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT).

However, there’s a catch. The federation retains 20% of the prize money (i.e. $3.2 million), while the remaining 80% is split between the men’s and women’s teams. All in all, Christian Pulisic, leading goalscorer Folarin Balogun, German-born Malik Tillman, and the rest of the USMNT will receive $6.4 million, which will be distributed across the board.

For Balogun, the share he gets may come in handy to pay his fine, which FIFA revealed despite lifting his suspension. As for the remaining $6.4 million will go to the women’s team. The current CBA was agreed upon in 2022 and is set to last through 2028, per Sports Illustrated.

USMNT missed out on more money

Had the United States defeated Belgium and reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, they would have been guaranteed a bigger prize. The USA would have secured at least an additional $4 million, as the prize for teams eliminated in the quarterfinals is $20 million.

Still, the Stars and Stripes were never in soccer’s biggest tournament for the money, but for glory instead. Seeing as they failed to record the best World Cup finish in USA history, there may be no check big enough to ease the pain that extends from sea to shining sea.

“I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play,” Pulisic explained. “I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It’s just an unfortunate way to finish.” The raw emotion of his comments mirrored the widespread heartbreak surrounding the Americans’ early exit, a reality that clearly set in for the captain after he was forced to the sidelines midway through the second half.

“I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high. Yeah, it’s disappointing. I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to try to help us really push and get over this next step of beating a really good team. I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but I’m going to try to stay positive. I did a lot of good things and the team did as well,” Pulisic remarked, reflecting on the program’s missed opportunity to break through on the world stage.

The blowout exit was a jarring conclusion for the USMNT that had shown real promise during the group stage. Ultimately, Belgium’s ruthless, clinical finishing exposed a disorganized American side, which failed to capitalize on the massive pre-match boost of having Folarin Balogun’s suspension lifted by FIFA just in time for the knockout clash.

Pulisic’s World Cup campaign beset by injuries

Pulisic’s 2026 World Cup campaign with the USMNT was heavily compromised by unfortunate physical setbacks. The AC Milan forward was carefully managed through a calf injury early on, featuring as a halftime substitute in the opening 4–1 win against Paraguay—where he provided an assist—before starting against Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina as the USMNT navigated its way to the knockout stages.

His tournament came to a frustrating end during the Round of 16 elimination match against Belgium in Seattle. Pulisic suffered a combined right ankle and knee sprain during a heavy 52nd-minute tackle and was forced off the pitch in the 59th minute, shortly before Belgium took total control to secure their comfortable 4–1 victory.

Ultimately, injuries prevented the US talisman from finding his peak form or anchoring the frontline consistently. He concluded the home tournament with four total appearances, 225 minutes on the pitch, zero goals, and one assist.

Speaking after the match, the Real Madrid goalkeeper said Belgium, who mocked the United States over Folarin Balogun situation, felt disrespected by outside commentary questioning whether the team was still capable of competing at the highest level. “The kind of disrespect we received in recent days — that’s no longer the same team,” Courtois said, noting that the group used that criticism as fuel.

Courtois added that Belgium’s performance was a reminder of their quality. “Today we proved that we’re still a good team and that you can never take anything for granted at a World Cup,” he said. Courtois also admitted he found some of the pre‑match talk amusing: “Honestly, when I read those things, I just laughed a little.”

Courtois says Senegal posed a greater challenge than the USA

Courtois also compared the United States to Belgium’s group-stage opponent Senegal, insisting he felt more confident before facing the Americans. “I understand that people wanted to give a lot of publicity to the United States, but honestly, I felt much more certain that we were going to beat the U.S. than I did against Senegal, because Senegal is a better team. And I think today that was also proven.” After the defeat, Mauricio Pochettino took blame over USA’s World Cup elimination.

Belgium backed up those comments on the field, recovering after Malik Tillman’s free‑kick equalizer to score three unanswered goals and secure a convincing Round of 16 victory. After the match, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia revealed postgame conversation with Folarin Balogun, while Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the net to complete the 4-1 win.

Belgium set up quarterfinal clash with Spain

The victory sent Belgium into the quarterfinals, where they will face Spain on Friday, July 10. Spain reached the last eight after defeating Portugal 1–0 in the Round of 16.

Peter Rutzler shared the details of this post-match interaction on X. “He [Balogun] came to talk to me. I really liked that. It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame, I told him that. I appreciate the intention of him speaking to me.” Garcia said.

Rutzler fully quoted the Belgium manager explaining that the overturned red card ultimately made zero impact on his squad. “What really mattered to us was our game plan“ Garcia stated.

Will the Balogun and FIFA controversy end here?

The drama surrounding FIFA overturning Balogun’s red card from the Bosnia and Herzegovina match will likely quiet down now that the United States is officially out of the tournament. Because the US team cannot progress any further in the 2026 World Cup, the immediate sporting consequences of that controversial ruling have effectively evaporated.

However, the governing body itself will face lingering questions about its disciplinary consistency and appeal processes long after the World Cup. While the tournament moves on without the Americans, soccer analysts will continue to use this specific incident as a textbook example of VAR and administrative debate.

Could this affect Balogun’s professional career?

This type of World Cup controversy is highly unlikely to negatively impact Balogun’s professional career or his standing at the club level with Monaco. If anything, his mature decision to personally address Rudi Garcia after a painful elimination shows a high level of character that managers value.