US coach Pochettino regrets his limited role in Balogun red-card appeal at the World Cup, tell me about this news in (https://www.wral.com/news/ap/22c60-us-coach-pochettino-regrets-his-limited-role-in-balogun-red-card-appeal-at-the-world-cup/)

United States men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed regret over his handling and limited involvement regarding the appeal of Folarin Balogun’s red card during the 2026 World Cup.

Key Details from the Report:

• The Incident & Controversial Decision: During the group/knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, Folarin Balogun received a red card. The decision was appealed, and in an extraordinary rulingbelieved to be the first time since 1962 that a World Cup red card did not result in an automatic suspensionFIFA overturned the ban, clearing Balogun to participate in the round-of-16 clash against Belgium.

• Reactions & Controversy: The lifting of the suspension sparked significant controversy and backlash, drawing heavy outrage from Belgium while receiving public praise from political figures, including Donald Trump.

• Impact on the Team: Pochettino reflected on the fallout ahead of an international fixture, admitting that the decision dramatically altered the team’s dynamic and atmosphere. He noted that looking back with perspective, it created a chaotic environment leading into the knockout fixture. The U.S. ultimately suffered a 4–1 defeat to Belgium, with Balogun making little impact on the pitch.

• Pochettino’s Reflection: Pochettino stated that while he may not have fully understood the magnitude of the criticism at the time, he now views it as an experience to learn from, acknowledging that the circumstances surrounding the appeal created a distraction that was not conducive to competing at the highest level in a World Cup.