Damning Folarin Balogun stat sums up USA’s defeat to Belgium as World Cup run ends

Perhaps predictably for those who know just how funny a game soccer can be, Folarin Balogun had little impact as the USMNT crashed out of the World Cup 2026.

Beaten 4-1 in relatively easy fashion by Belgium in Seattle, Mauricio Pochettino’s team were denied a first World Cup quarter-final appearance since 2002 because of their heavy loss in Seattle.

Clearly, much of the focus heading into the game was around Balogun after his red card was controversially suspended following an intervention from US President Donald Trump.

This game, however, works in mysterious ways. So much attention can be paid to one player, yet that might not end up being the story.

It would be fair to say that was the case here, too.

According to Opta, no player on the field had fewer touches than the Monaco forward during the first half of the game.

Balogun touched the ball only ten times as the USMNT struggled to even look like they were going to win.

It is easy to say with the benefit of hindsight but perhaps Pochettino would have been better served leaving the former Arsenal man on the bench. The team, frankly, looked overawed by the occasion and all of the drama for days leading up to it cannot have helped.

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Clearly, it would be foolish to blame the 25-year-old as the sole reason for his country’s defeat.

Were it not for his goals during the tournament, there’s no guarantee that the USMNT would have even got this far.

Still, his sheer lack of involvement – particularly in the first half – was a perfect illustration of just how it went for the USMNT.

There was a lot of bravado and bluster but it all ended with a whimper.

Balogun will no doubt come again. There have certainly been enough signs during the World Cup to suggest that he’s got a very bright future at major international tournaments ahead of him.

However, for all the talk heading into the game, it was a rare tame exit in the end.