The United States men’s national team flamed out of the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Belgium on Monday night.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team lost 4-1 at the Seattle Stadium despite being favourites to reach the quarter-finals.
The USMNT appeared to have been distracted by the Folarin Balogun suspension saga following his red card against Bosnia.
Balogun’s one-game ban was suspended after Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Although the USA are a better team with Balogun up front, his involvement was probably a distraction in their game against Belgium.
Former England star Gary Neville has now explained how the striker’s teammates would have felt about the situation.
How the USMNT players must have felt about Donald Trump’s intervention in Folarin Balogun ban
Ex-Manchester United and England right-back Gary Neville spoke passionately about Folarin Balogun’s controversial situation.
He insisted that Donald Trump’s intervention and FIFA’s shocking decision to suspend Balogun’s ban hindered the USMNT.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team had been a feel-good story before the Round of 16, winning over football fans around the world.
However, Balogun’s availability turned everyone against them, and even the USA players would have felt uncomfortable.
“I think they have grabbed defeat from victory in the sense that they had so much neutral love,” Neville told ITV Sport.
“We were all thinking, ‘What a great performance,’ from the very beginning, and I think when you look at those American football players and Mauricio Pochettino, they are Americans with morals.
“So when you have what happened in that pre-match situation in the 48 hours before, they will not have enjoyed that.
“We know football players. They don’t like the idea of an unfair advantage of any kind; they like it to be an even playing field.
“The intervention of the US President and FIFA, they would have hated that. It’s put them under unnecessary pressure, and I would imagine it’s definitely affected them.”
Neville also suggested that Pochettino should have made a statement by leaving Balogun out of the starting XI.
Although Pochettino’s sportsmanship would have been commended, this decision would likely have angered the White House.
It is just a real shame that the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup journey ended in such awkward and upsetting circumstances.
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