World Cup 2026: ‘Punished enough’ – Mauricio Pochettino backs FIFA shock U-turn on Folarin Balogun red card

Mauricio Pochettino has welcomed FIFA’s dramatic decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s suspension, describing the ruling as a justified correction ahead of the United States’ last-16 clash with Belgium in Seattle.

The governing body’s disciplinary committee opted to suspend the original one-match ban handed to Folarin Balogun following his red card against Bosnia & Herzegovina, replacing it with a one-year probationary sanction.

The ruling means the striker, who has scored three goals in three starts at the tournament, is now eligible to face Belgium on Monday.

The decision, triggered under Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary framework, has sparked widespread debate across the tournament, with Belgium’s camp branding it an “astonishing” reversal and suggesting possible legal avenues in response.

It is only the second known instance of a straight red card being overturned at a World Cup, the first dating back to 1962, placing the decision among the most controversial disciplinary calls in modern tournament history.

‘We were punished enough’ – Pochettino defends ruling

Pochettino made his stance clear, insisting the United States had already paid a heavy price during the Bosnia match when they were reduced to 10 men.

“My reaction is like everyone, I really love the sport and trust the ethics and integrity. We celebrate this decision. We were punished enough against Bosnia to play 30 minutes with 10 men. It was completely unfair. I need to defend my side, it is, 99.9%, we all agree it was an unfair red card.”

He added that correcting the suspension was not only fair but necessary for the credibility of the game.

“It’s very good for football. It opens up the possibility to repair a little bit the bad decisions.”

The US coach stressed he had no direct role in the appeal process, crediting federation officials for handling the behind-the-scenes push to overturn the ban.

“I wasn’t involved, I found out today before training…. No more process, the federation, for sure, was working really hard, to try and defend our situation. I was not involved, I was focused to face Belgium.”

Political spotlight intensifies controversy

The debate surrounding the decision escalated further after reports emerged suggesting involvement from US political leadership. Claims circulated that the president had engaged FIFA officials directly and supported efforts to reverse the suspension, adding an unexpected layer to an already heated sporting dispute.

Pochettino, however, refused to be drawn into the political dimension, instead framing the situation as evidence of football’s expanding cultural influence in the United States.

“That is the power of the sport, that is amazing. I am from a different culture and federation where they say the president called and said the president want to be involved – it’s not surprised me.”

He suggested that football’s growing profile in the country is accelerating rapidly, with public figures increasingly drawn into its orbit.

“I come from Argentina and Europe, where football is more than a religion. It is not surprising to me, that in this country, that feeling is starting to grow so quick.”

Focus shifts to Belgium showdown

Despite the controversy, attention now turns firmly to the pitch, where the United States face a stern test against a Belgium side that defeated them 5-2 in a friendly earlier this year.

Pochettino believes his squad has evolved significantly since that meeting, particularly with Balogun’s return reshaping their attacking threat at a crucial moment in the tournament.

With belief growing inside the camp, the manager insists the focus must remain on performance rather than politics, as the USMNT prepare for one of their biggest matches in recent tournament history.