Coach Mauricio Pochettino ignited a rallying cry for the United States during their World Cup campaign, asking, "Why not us?" This question has resonated through the squad as they navigate the tournament, now reaching the knockout stages after a solid victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. The win, however, came at a significant cost.

Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old forward and former Arsenal player, opened the scoring against Bosnia, marking his third goal of the tournament. Despite a near-hat-trick performance, his night ended prematurely when he received a straight red card after a challenging encounter with Bosnia's Tarik Muharemovic. The incident, deemed accidental, resulted in a gruesome ankle twist for Muharemovic, compelling Brazilian referee Raphael Claus to issue the red card after reviewing the play.

Balogun's ejection placed him in an unfortunate historical context, becoming only the fourth player to score and be sent off in a knockout match, joining legends like Garrincha and Zinedine Zidane. The immediate consequence is a one-game ban, ruling him out of the crucial match against Belgium. There's a possibility of further sanctions from FIFA, potentially sidelining him for the quarter-finals and semi-finals if the U.S. progresses.

In Balogun's absence, Ricardo Pepi is expected to step in, though he has struggled to find the net recently. Teammate Chris Richards emphasized the team's unity, stating, "We told him we have got his back. We are a team of 26, not just one."

Pochettino echoed this sentiment, reinforcing the idea of resilience and teamwork, as the squad aims to create a legacy in the tournament. With fans rallying behind them, the question remains: can the U.S. overcome this setback and continue their World Cup journey?