Striker Folarin Balogun broke his silence following the United States' exit from the 2026 World Cup, sending an apology message to American fans after the crushing 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16.
Balogun had stirred controversy before the match, after FIFA decided to lift his suspension following his red card in the round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling him to participate against the Belgian national team.
The Monaco striker posted a message on his official X account, expressing his sadness at the end of the US national team's journey, saying: "This is my first World Cup, and it is very painful to wait four years to compete again at the highest level in football. I want to apologize to our fans, we were not up to the task when it mattered most, we let you down at the crucial moment."
Despite the bitterness of the elimination, Balogun affirmed his confidence in the future of American football, noting that the experience would give the team an incentive to come back stronger.
He added: "Soccer in America is going to get bigger and stronger. The belief in the project, the talent, and the passion are constantly growing, and I am certain that the best days are yet to come. The future always belongs to those who never stop believing in their abilities, and this moment will give us the strength to come back."
The Belgian national team ended the home team's dream, after securing qualification for the quarter-finals thanks to a brace from Charles De Ketelaere, and goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku.
The end of the match witnessed a funny moment, after the Belgian players celebrated their fourth goal by imitating the dance of former US President Donald Trump, in a scene that sparked reactions from fans on social media.
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