*****Official United States of America vs Bosnia & Herzegovina WC 2026 Thread*****

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PatAg
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In reply to Tergdor • 1:04p, 7/2/26
AG
Tergdor said:
After reading a ton of people fighting about the red card I've come to the conclusion that non-Americans seem to focus on the result of plays and not the preceding actions. Which is, imo, a dumb way to call fouls.

Even for how bad targeting and roughing the passer calls can be in football, those rules focus on actions and the leagues have at least been trying to legislate them in that direction.

At the end of the day, Balogun is effectively being penalized for not flopping as soon as he got hit.

non-americans are also very likely to to just take whatever opinion penalizes us the most
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512Ag
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In reply to deadbq03 • 1:08p, 7/2/26
AG
deadbq03 said:
For me I thought the big screwup was him not giving a yellow on the field… if I understand correctly, once it went to VAR review, the choice becomes binary in this case: stick with nothing or give a red.

And given only those two choices, I reluctantly agree that it leans towards red. But for me I think it was more of a yellow and I feel like if he had actually whipped out a yellow on the field, he would've stuck to that.

I tend to agree, but unfortunately the ref forgot he had a yellow card in his pocket for pretty much the entire match. He lost control early and never tried to recover. Or he's just bad. Or both.
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gougler08
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In reply to agracer • 1:17p, 7/2/26
AG
agracer said:
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

you don't know what you're talking about.

Pretty sure he's a referee so while you might disagree with him, his knowledge of soccer rules is likely >>> most
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tysker
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In reply to gougler08 • 1:38p, 7/2/26
AG
gougler08 said:
agracer said:
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

you don't know what you're talking about.

Pretty sure he's a referee so while you might disagree with him, his knowledge of soccer rules is likely >>> most

Ya that was a 'bold strategy, Cotton' level post
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PJYoung
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1:54p, 7/2/26
AG
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zgolfz85
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In reply to PJYoung • 1:55p, 7/2/26
AG
PJYoung said:


Wow didn't realize that. Balo should have gotten 2 pens honestly
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JDUB08AG
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1:58p, 7/2/26
AG
Tinfoil hat time. FIFA and the world doesn't want the US to sniff a WC title.
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AustinScubaAg
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 1:58p, 7/2/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
PJYoung said:


Wow didn't realize that. Balo should have gotten 2 pens honestly

What does that say about the VAR. Hard to say unbiased
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PJYoung
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In reply to JDUB08AG • 2:02p, 7/2/26
AG
JDUB08AG said:
Tinfoil hat time. FIFA and the world doesn't want the US to sniff a WC title.

And when they showed the replay they picked it up after the defender let go of his arm. Which reminds me that FIFA controls the TV broadcast. Angles, replays, everything.
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Enrico Pallazzo
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In reply to JDUB08AG • 2:03p, 7/2/26
JDUB08AG said:
Tinfoil hat time. FIFA and the world doesn't want the US to sniff a WC title.


I don't think it requires a tinfoil hat
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Aston94
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In reply to Furlock Bones • 2:06p, 7/2/26
AG
Furlock Bones said:


Slow motion was not even appropriate for that moment. Maybe FIFA pulls their head out of their asses and rescinds the red.


Don't hold your breath.
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zgolfz85
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2:08p, 7/2/26
AG
At this point we just need to ensure they don't take balo out for multiple matches. That would be utter bs
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zgolfz85
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2:08p, 7/2/26
AG
I don't think poch will do this, but Malik can play the 9
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tcow715
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 2:10p, 7/2/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
I don't think poch will do this, but Malik can play the 9

I doubt it. I have never seen him outside of midfield/attacking midfield. I would assume Poch is going to change the least amount possible for this game.
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gougler08
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2:12p, 7/2/26
AG
Seems like the most logical is put Pepi/Wright in and just try to work through Pulisic/Dest more than we have
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zgolfz85
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In reply to gougler08 • 2:24p, 7/2/26
AG
gougler08 said:
Seems like the most logical is put Pepi/Wright in and just try to work through Pulisic/Dest more than we have


And Weston. I'd like to see him making outside to inside runs a lot more on Monday
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birdman
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2:34p, 7/2/26
Of course, they fouled Balogun there. But he didn't help his case. He made the initial contact and created space with outstretched arm behind him.

He went down a bit too easily a few times early in the game. Ref just chalks up every subsequent foul as embellishment.
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LeonardSkinner
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2:39p, 7/2/26
I wish I could say that I've found Pepi to be impressive or even tolerable in this tournament so far.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to birdman • 2:45p, 7/2/26
AG
birdman said:
Of course, they fouled Balogun there. But he didn't help his case. He made the initial contact and created space with outstretched arm behind him.

He went down a bit too easily a few times early in the game. Ref just chalks up every subsequent foul as embellishment.


Which sucks….sucks that you have to be a drama queen in 2026 to continue to get necessary calls
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YouBet
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 2:47p, 7/2/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
At this point we just need to ensure they don't take balo out for multiple matches. That would be utter bs


If for some reason that happened, this is a time where I would want our loud mouthed, **** talking POTUS to make some noise. I hope he would lean hard on FIFA President and make some threats.
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deadbq03
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In reply to zgolfz85 • 2:56p, 7/2/26
AG
zgolfz85 said:
I don't think poch will do this, but Malik can play the 9
McKinnie can too, and honestly I'd rather see that if we're doing something unorthodox. I watched him do it for Juve and his movement in the box is outstanding.

That being said, I still prefer the Pepi target man holdup-play strategy.
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deadbq03
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In reply to JDUB08AG • 3:00p, 7/2/26
AG
JDUB08AG said:
Tinfoil hat time. FIFA and the world doesn't want the US to sniff a WC title.
Not buying this at all. They view us as a potential gold mine.

Now are individual refs biased against us? Absolutely.
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zgolfz85
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In reply to deadbq03 • 3:03p, 7/2/26
AG
deadbq03 said:
zgolfz85 said:
I don't think poch will do this, but Malik can play the 9
McKinnie can too, and honestly I'd rather see that if we're doing something unorthodox. I watched him do it for Juve and his movement in the box is outstanding.

That being said, I still prefer the Pepi target man holdup-play strategy.


Weah too, but dude has shown nothing to give any reason to do that. As far as speed and athleticism, he's probably closest to balo. I'm still on the haji train tho. I feel like Pepi is too lean right now. Dude is just so skinny
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tysker
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In reply to deadbq03 • 3:16p, 7/2/26
AG
deadbq03 said:
zgolfz85 said:
I don't think poch will do this, but Malik can play the 9

McKinnie can too, and honestly I'd rather see that if we're doing something unorthodox. I watched him do it for Juve and his movement in the box is outstanding.

That being said, I still prefer the Pepi target man holdup-play strategy.

I actually really like this idea. I think Belgium can press our defensive line much more than previous teams.
So you can move Weston up to more of a false nine and replace him with Berhalter next to Adams but behind Tillman (like a 3-2-2-3 maybe). You bolster your defensive midfield while not dropping off the offensive playmaking too much.

If you need to pick up a goal late, you can replace Berhalter with Pepi or Gio
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Aston94
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3:28p, 7/2/26
AG
I do not want to change a thing about our midfield of Tillman, Weston and Adams, or take Dest or Pulisic off the wings. They have been our team's strength, leave them alone.

Now maybe a Reyna as a false 9, but not moving around the parts that are working. I think we will see same lineup with Pepi at the 9.
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agracer
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In reply to gougler08 • 3:50p, 7/2/26
AG
gougler08 said:
agracer said:
Mathguy64 said:
Wasn't able to watch last night and finally saw the play.

In isolation I have red. There is no intent to injure but that's not part of the Law. It's accidental which also isn't important. It's a tackle that endangers the safety of the player. It had some force but I wouldn't call it excessive.

My problem is the Messi challenge checked the same box. It has less force but was 1000% intentional and was a rake down the calf. It's Red all day long. In a Sunday men's league if you don't show Rwd you have a fight.

Let's be clear. If a Referee sends Messi off there that Referee is getting on a plane and going home that night. Their tourney is done. In the WC with the bar so high for cards anyway I'm fine in that context with Yellow. Anywhere else? Send them both.

We will appeal and I bet the suspension is 1 game instead of 2. The media optics comparing it to Messi (and the implied Jordan Rules) look bad.

The BIH coach committed an automatic send off for grabbing the ball and delaying our restart. He committed a second by dissenting outside his technical area. The yellow for dissent was the cowards call because now the dissent card means the restart is delayed anyway.

you don't know what you're talking about.

Pretty sure he's a referee so while you might disagree with him, his knowledge of soccer rules is likely >>> most

FTR: I edited my original post b/c I was being rude.


So am I.

You don't (at all times) take things 'in isolation" when calling fouls and Balogun is not making a tackle, he's challenging for the ball and accidentally steps on the other player. WORST CASE it's reckless which is a yellow card. There nothing else there under IFAB that suggests it's a sending off offense nor in the FIFA considerations.

Now if Balogun had been causing issues, hard tackles, talked and warned to multiple times by the Referee, the game temperature was elevated and in the Referee's judgement Balogun was acting with disregard of the safety of an opponent while challenging for the ball (say stomping his foot), then yes, he have a red card. But that didn't come close to happening.

Also, the BiH coach did NOT commit and automatic send off. Picking up the ball is a yellow card. Only reason for a send off would be if he did it to stop a promising attack (he didn't) but he was guilty of unsporting behavior, which is a yellow card.
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Mathguy64
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In reply to agracer • 4:20p, 7/2/26
AG
Delaying the restart of an opponent by a member of the technical staff is a straight red. It was our throw. He picked up the ball, kept it, threw a temper tantrum and pretty violently slammed it into the ground. Red. Automatic.
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agracer
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In reply to Mathguy64 • 4:51p, 7/2/26
AG
Mathguy64 said:
Delaying the restart of an opponent by a member of the technical staff is a straight red. It was our throw. He picked up the ball, kept it, threw a temper tantrum and pretty violently slammed it into the ground. Red. Automatic.

my mistake, I completely misread the Law 12. I've honestly never seen a coach get a red for picking up the ball, but then in International play there are usually plenty of balls all around to be picked up and played.
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Peter Piper
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In reply to agracer • 5:05p, 7/2/26
agracer said:
Mathguy64 said:
nm


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CrockerAg98
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6:12p, 7/2/26
AG
Man, I hope y'all are correct about Pepi.

In the times I've seen him, he's been horribly underwhelming. Gets bullied off the ball, doesn't create, doesn't seem to have the speed or elusiveness to make defenders give a sh*t about him..
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oragator
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6:14p, 7/2/26
oragator
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6:15p, 7/2/26
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PatAg
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6:47p, 7/2/26
AG
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redline248
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In reply to CrockerAg98 • 6:57p, 7/2/26
AG
I read an article on Fox sports today about possibilities for striker. There is this quote of Pepi's contrast to Balogun:
Quote:
He is more of a classic striker who reads the game in the box, knows how to get into dangerous spots, and is far more of an aerial threat than Balogun.

I'm not sure what that means in terms of how the rest of our team plays or how much would have to change in our style.
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oragator
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7:17p, 7/2/26
Including telemundo,

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