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Mauricio Pochettino expressed regret over not being more involved when deciding whether to appeal Folarin Balogun’s red card during the World Cup, which he believes altered his team's energy and contributed to their loss against Belgium in the round of 16. The US coach suggested that a smaller group within US Soccer should handle such critical decisions with common sense rather than relying on broader committee regulations or external influences like political interventions.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the US men’s national team, expressed regret at not being more involved in the decision to appeal a red card received by star forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup. Balogun was suspended after receiving a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina but was allowed to play against Belgium due to interventions from the US Soccer Federation and President Donald Trump, who reportedly spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. This unusual move drew criticism from Belgium and overshadowed what had been an otherwise positive tournament for the US team. After the suspension was lifted, the energy around the team changed significantly leading up to their match against Belgium in the round of 16. Balogun’s presence was crucial as he led the team with three goals during the World Cup.
Written for “Mauricio Pochettino Regrets Role” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino said he regretted not being more involved in the decision to appeal Folarin Balogun’s World Cup red card, adding that the controversy changed the energy around his team before their last-16 loss to Belgium.
asserted
controversy → say → Belgium
Balogun was sent off in the US’s round-of-32 win over Bosnia but FIFA’s disciplinary committee later suspended his one-match ban for a year, allowing the forward to play against Belgium.
asserted
forward → send → Belgium
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The decision triggered controversy after US President Donald Trump said he had intervened on behalf of the World Cup cohosts by urging FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to review the case.
asserted
he → send → case
“Perhaps I regret not having been more involved when the Bosnia match ended, in the situation that followed and generated everything negative that happened after,” Pochettino said in an interview for Futbol de Primera on Thursday.
asserted
Pochettino → regret → Thursday
The US had moved through the group stage before beating Bosnia, raising hopes that the team could reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
uncertain
team → move → 2002
Instead, the Americans lost 4-1 to Belgium in the last 16.
asserted
Americans → lose → 16
Pochettino added that he understood how a change to the punishment following a referee’s decision to send a player off at a World Cup – one that allowed the player to feature in the next match – could alter the outcome of the match.
“No one understood why it happened, and as a football person, I know how things can shift the energy in an instant.
uncertain
things → add → instant
After that, the energy changed.
asserted
energy → change → that
The match was then played under different parameters,” he said.
asserted
he → play → parameters
The 54-year-old Argentinian coach added that he did not believe a different tactical approach, strategy or team selection would have changed the performance against Belgium.
asserted
approach → add → Belgium
He said US Soccer should narrow the group responsible for making decisions about matters such as appealing red cards.
asserted
Soccer → say → cards
“I think about the decisions made after the Bosnia match.
asserted
I → think → match
These things need to be managed internally within a much more limited structure,” Pochettino said.
asserted
Pochettino → need → structure
“The decisions need to come from very few people, from a sports perspective and with common sense.
asserted
decisions → need → sense
This applies regardless of what a committee or a regulation may decide after.”
uncertain
committee → apply → what
Belgium’s football federation said earlier this month it would not support Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president unless it received satisfactory answers over the Balogun case and other governance concerns.
asserted
it → say → case
It said FIFA had not provided adequate justification for suspending Balogun’s ban or explained how comparable cases would be handled in future, and asked for the matter to be placed on the agenda for the next FIFA Council meeting on October 15.
asserted
matter → say → October
The US host Peru in a friendly in Orlando on Saturday, before facing Chile on Tuesday and Mexico and Canada next week.
asserted
US → host → Tuesday
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