Why isn’t Folarin Balogun playing for the USMNT against Turkey at the World Cup?
The Monaco striker starred in the USMNT’s opening World Cup win but is absent from the starting lineup in Los Angeles.
Folarin Balogun made an instant impact on his World Cup debut against Paraguay, scoring two goals in the first half as the USMNT cruised to a 4-1 victory in the opening game of the 2026 tournament. However, the striker didn’t add to his tally in his team’s second fixture against Australia and looks unlikely to get the chance to do so in Thursday’s clash with Turkey.
Balogun is one of four American players who received a yellow card in one of the first two games, putting him at risk of suspension. Indeed, if the Monaco attacker were to be booked again against Turkey, he would be banned for the United States’ round of 32 match against an as-yet-unknown opponent. Balogun is one of nine changes to the USMNT starting XI to face Turkey.
World Cup suspension rules explained
The new World Cup suspension rules state that any player who collects two yellow cards in the group stage is suspended for their team’s next match, whether that is the final group game or the round of 32.
All players start the round of 32 with a clean slate, although it is also possible to incur a one-game ban by collecting two yellow cards across the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinals.
Again, all yellow cards are wiped after the quarterfinals, which means a player can only be suspended for the World Cup final if they are shown a red card, either straight or for two yellow cards, in the semifinals.
What it all means for the USMNT is that head coach Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he is highly unlikely to risk Balogun against Turkey, even as a substitute.
Why are Adams, Richards and Robinson not playing for the USMNT against Turkey?
The same goes for Tyler Adams, who was yellow-carded in the win over Paraguay, and Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, who suffered the same fate in the victory against Australia.
All four players are not expected to feature against Turkey to ensure they are available for the first game of the knockout stage.
“I think it’s an easy answer for the guys that have yellow cards,” Pochettino said at his prematch news conference on Wednesday. “I think it’s unnecessary to take a risk and then take another yellow card and not be available for the next stage.”
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