A shambolic end for the American dream - did Balogun saga play a part?

The United States' World Cup campaign ended in a shambolic 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last-16, their heaviest loss since 1990. The match, played in Seattle, saw the usually boisterous American fanbase fall flat long before the final whistle, with many fans leaving after Belgium's fourth goal. This exit came amid a whirlwind few days dominated by the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun, whose red card from the previous game was controversially suspended by Fifa, allowing him to start. The Balogun saga drew widespread criticism, including from Uefa, Belgium, and England boss Thomas Tuchel, and even reached the top of US politics with President Donald Trump asking Fifa to review the decision. Despite the off-field drama, US boss Mauricio Pochettino insisted the controversy did not affect his team's performance, stating "it's not an excuse." However, the defeat marked a stark end to a tournament where the US had shed their underdog mentality and played with an "arrogant swagger," leading fans to believe they could win the World Cup.