US men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino recently expressed regret over not being more involved in the controversy surrounding forward Folarin Balogun during this summer’s World Cup. The incident began when Balogun received a red card after a challenge against Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović, which typically results in a one-game suspension. However, the suspension was later overturned after the U.S. Soccer Federation and former U.S. president Donald Trump lobbied FIFA, with Trump stating he personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the decision. Infantino later clarified that the reversal was made independently by FIFA’s disciplinary committee. The situation created a negative atmosphere that overshadowed the positive momentum the U.S. team had built up in the tournament. Belgium’s players and coaches reportedly used the controversy as added motivation for their upcoming match against the U.S., which the Americans lost 4-1. Balogun later admitted feeling uncomfortable with the intense scrutiny the situation brought upon him. In a Spanish-language interview with broadcaster Andrés Cantor, Pochettino acknowledged he was not involved in the decision to overturn the red card but expressed regret that he wasn’t more engaged in the process. “Maybe I regret not having been more involved,” Pochettino said. “I wasn’t involved in that decision, to overturn the red card. As a football person, I understand everything … Beyond whether we were right or not [about the call on the field], I think nobody understood how it happened.” Pochettino also suggested that the controversy may have contributed to the team’s poor performance in the match against Belgium. “As a football person,” he said, “where many times we have that emotional intelligence – [we know] that energy can change things. I think that energy changed the minute that happened.” He added that the team’s tactical approach and player selection could not have changed the outcome of the game once the negative energy had taken hold. Pochettino also criticized the number of people involved in the U.S. Soccer Federation’s efforts to overturn the suspension, suggesting that such decisions should be handled by a smaller, more focused group. “These types of things have to be managed under a much more limited structure,” he said. “Decisions should be strictly sporting and common sense, beyond whether a rule or a committee can say one thing or another.” Looking ahead, Pochettino’s U.S. men’s national team will face Peru in Orlando on Saturday, followed by matches against Chile, Mexico, and Canada during the rest of the extended international window. The coach’s comments highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing sportsmanship, strategy, and external pressures in international football.