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United States forward Folarin Balogun has signed with LeBron James' agency Klutch Sports following a breakout World Cup that elevated his profile on and off the pitch.
FLORIDA, USA: Two staff members of the US soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium. FIFA did not explain why they imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and US Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell. The USSF did not give a reason Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game, red-card suspension lifted. Zapatka has been the team’s administrative manager since 2020 and has worked for the USSF since 2015. The US were eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Two staff members of the United States men's soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday's round-of-16 game against Belgium.
FLORIDA, USA: FIFA has defended the reputation of World Cup referee Raphael Claus in rare pushback on comments by US President Donald Trump, who questioned his integrity for sending off Folarin Balogun. Trump suggested on Monday at the White House, without elaborating, that the 46-year-old Brazilian was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.” Claus red-carded Balogun against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week, setting off a furor that saw Trump intervene with FIFA to ensure the United States forward could play against Belgium late Monday. FIFA praised Claus, who is working at his second World Cup, in a statement published before the US 4-1 loss that sent Belgium to the quarterfinals. “Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” FIFA said, calling Claus “one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member” of its team of World Cup match officials. FIFA made no similar statement in public support of Somali referee Omar Artan, who US authorities denied entry to the country last month ahead of the tournament. Like Artan, Claus has refereed the final of a top-tier competition in his home continent before being picked among the 52 referees by FIFA for this World Cup. Claus refereed Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage and worked the US’ 2-0 win over Bosnia in the round of 32.
Even as it played a World Cup on home soil, the round of 16 remains a major hurdle for the U.S. men's soccer team — and former USA player Stu Holden can't help but feel underwhelmed following its most recent shortcoming.
Mauricio Pochettino admitted his disappointment at the “politics and manipulation” which overshadowed the United States’ World Cup exit following President Donald Trump’s intervention.
SEATTLE: The United States’ hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday night that earned a quarterfinal berth. While the US was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals and goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe gave the Red Devils a third early in the second half. Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal in the third minute of stoppage time. Seeking its first World Cup title, Belgium knocked the US out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games. The Red Devils play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco. Malik Tillman tied the score 1-1 midway through the first half with his second free kick goal of the tournament, but the Americans conceded just 61 seconds after the ensuing kickoff.
SEATTLE, July 6 : The United States' World Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in a 4-1 win overshadowed by FIFA's controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun's ban.