The United States national football team has been eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a defeat against Belgium, in a match marked by a disputed incident involving American forward Folarin Balogun. According to GoogleNewsEN, the controversy surrounding Balogun is reported to have played a significant role in the outcome of the fixture.

According to GoogleNewsEN, the incident has been characterised in coverage as an ‘injustice’ directed at Balogun, though the precise nature of the event — whether relating to a refereeing decision, a disciplinary ruling, or another circumstance — has not been fully detailed in the available source material.

Belgium capitalised on the situation to secure victory and advance to the subsequent round of the tournament. The United States, one of the three host nations of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, has consequently been knocked out of the competition at this stage.

The parties involved could not be reached for comment based on the available source material.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The early elimination of the American side represents a notable setback for the host nation, which had been expected to benefit from home advantage in progressing further through the tournament.