The United States delivered a statement win in the World Cup Round of 32, securing a place in the next stage.
See the celebrations and emotional moments as Team USA advanced in the knockout rounds.
Above, Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates victory with his team mates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
SANTA CLARA, Ca. — Folarin Balogun’s red card would be a whole lot more palatable if the referee hadn’t been so inept the rest of the game.
Brazil’s Raphael Claus lost control of the game from the opening whistle of the U.S. men’s national team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1. Hell, probably from when he got the assignment. Tyler Adams got bodied as if he’d wandered into a WWE fight and Balogun was repeatedly pushed around. A Bosnia and Herzegovina player pushed Matt Freese’s head into the ground as he ran by.
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Malik Tillman’s right foot bled through his sock because he got stomped on right before he scored the insurance goal in the 82nd minute. And that wasn’t even the foul that earned the U.S. men’s national team the free kick!
More: USA just won the kind of game America can’t resist | Opinion
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
The United States delivered a statement win in the World Cup Round of 32, securing a place in the next stage.
See the celebrations and emotional moments as Team USA advanced in the knockout rounds.
Above, Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates victory with his team mates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
1 / 8
Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
The United States delivered a statement win in the World Cup Round of 32, securing a place in the next stage.
See the celebrations and emotional moments as Team USA advanced in the knockout rounds.
Above, Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates victory with his team mates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Chris Brady #25 and Matt Freese #24 of the United States celebrate victory after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Matt Freese #24 of the United States celebrates victory after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States scores his team’s first goal past Nikola Vasilj #1 of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Michael Steele, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Charlotte Wilson, Getty Images)
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Team USA erupts in celebration after World Cup win over Bosnia and Herzegovina
Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates with team mates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California.
(Charlotte Wilson, Getty Images)
Through it all, Claus was oblivious. Despite the bruising physicality, there was only one yellow card issued in addition to Balogun’s red. That’s unacceptable in any World Cup game, much less a win-or-go-home one.
Balogun raking the back of Tarik Muharemovic’s calf and stepping on his ankle was a foul, even if it wasn’t malicious. Or intentional. A red card? Possibly.
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But it’s hard to swallow the U.S. men’s national team losing their most dynamic player — for the final 36 minutes of this game and for the round-of-16 match against Belgium on Monday, July 6 — when Claus let so many other abuses go.
It’s a fast-paced game, no doubt. Making calls in a split-second is hard. But if you’re not up to the task, and it’s clear Claus wasn’t, then you shouldn’t be here.
This isn’t a case of American homerism. Well, not completely. When refs lose control of games it’s dangerous. Players are going to be physical, knowing they can get away with things. That’s how people get hurt.
The USMNT and Bosnia and Herzegovina both deserved better.
Follow USA TOAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trash refereeing made USA red card a whole lot harder to swallow | Opinion
