Pochettino Regrets Limited Role in Balogun's World Cup Appeal

Mauricio Pochettino, the current coach of the United States men's national team (USMNT), revealed his desire for greater involvement in the appeal process concerning Folarin Balogun's one-match ban from the 2026 World Cup. Balogun received a straight red card during the round-of-32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.

FIFA's disciplinary committee later decided to roll over the ban for a year, permitting Balogun to participate in the last 16 match against Belgium, which ended in a 4-1 defeat for the USMNT. Pochettino expressed regret for not addressing the situation more proactively after the Bosnia game, noting the negative impact it had on team morale and preparation for the Belgium match.

He suggested that future disciplinary appeals should involve a smaller committee to enhance decision-making efficiency. Balogun has since returned to play for Monaco after recovering from a minor injury.