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US striker Folarin Balogun says a yellow card, not red card, would have been ‘fair’ at the World Cup
By Andrew Destin, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 3, 2026
· 4 min read
United States forward Folarin Balogun said Friday he respectfully disagrees with his red card in the Americans' 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup.Balogun was sent off Wednesday for stepping on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovic.Before practice at Husky Soccer Stadium, Balogun sai...
Key takeaway Before practice at Husky Soccer Stadium, Balogun said a yellow card for the illegal tackle would have been fairer.
Why this matters in The Pearland
For Pearland residents who have been following the US team's progress in the World Cup, Folarin Balogun's suspension is a significant development. As the team prepares to face Belgium in the Round of 16, locals will be watching to see how the US coach Mauricio Pochettino adjusts the lineup to compensate for Balogun's absence. With several players having shown their flexibility in previous games, including Ricardo Pepi who started in place of Christian Pulisic against Australia, Pearland soccer fans will be interested to see who gets the nod to replace Balogun. The city's strong youth soccer programs and enthusiastic fan base make international competitions like the World Cup a major point of interest, and many will be tuning in to Monday's game to see how the US team fares without one of its key players.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Pearland surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? United States forward Folarin Balogun said Friday he respectfully disagrees with his red card in the Americans' 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup.Balogun was sent off Wednesday for stepping on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemovic.Before practice at Husky Soccer Stadium, Balogun sai...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Pearland readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Andrew Destin, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Pearland selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Pearland, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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