Garcia defends Balogun after Belgium's 4-1 rout ends USA's World Cup: 'It's not his fault'

Belgium swept the United States out of the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 victory in Seattle, and manager Rudi Garcia has since spoken warmly of a post-match exchange with USA striker Folarin Balogun, who was at the centre of a political storm before kick-off.

Balogun had been facing a one-match suspension after receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but FIFA suspended the ban following what reports described as the personal intervention of US President Donald Trump. The decision allowed the 25-year-old Monaco forward to start for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, though he was a peripheral figure as the USA struggled to replicate the form that had carried them to the last 16.

“He came to talk to me, I really like that,” Garcia said of Balogun’s approach after the final whistle. “It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame and that’s what I told him.”

Garcia’s comments reflect a broader sympathy for a player who had impressed throughout the tournament before being caught up in circumstances largely outside his control. Balogun’s performances prior to the red card had drawn considerable praise, making his muted display against Belgium all the more difficult to assess fairly given the surrounding noise.

The controversy has extended beyond the pitch. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing calls to resign over the apparent political interference in the tournament’s disciplinary process. Infantino and Trump have been publicly linked in the build-up to the World Cup, with Infantino presenting the “FIFA Peace Prize” to Trump in December during the tournament draw.

With the USA eliminated, Belgium now advance to a quarter-final meeting with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday, carrying momentum and a four-goal winning margin as evidence of their credentials as genuine contenders.