USA game tomorrow: what's Pochettino's plan with Balogun back?
For the USA game tomorrow against Belgium in Seattle, Mauricio Pochettino can start Folarin Balogun after FIFA rescinded his red-card suspension on Sunday. The Guardian says he will keep his three-goal striker up front, use wide overloads through Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest, and target Belgium's passive center-backs rather than reshaping around Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright. That restores the high-pressing, flank-heavy system this USMNT side has leaned on all tournament.
Key Takeaways
- FIFA overturned Balogun's one-match ban on Sunday, hours before the Round of 16 kickoff in Seattle.
- Pochettino can deploy Balogun as a hold-up No. 9 while Robinson and Dest stretch Belgium's flat back line.
- Belgium rank in the bottom half of teams for high regains and can be exposed down the flanks.
- Yahoo Sports reports US advance odds shortened once Balogun was cleared to play.
- The Seattle Times calls Monday's match one of Team USA's biggest home-stage moments.
Why does Balogun change Pochettino's plan?
After Balogun was sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pochettino faced a fork in the road. Pepi offers stronger hold-up play but can slow transitions; Wright is a more natural runner but had played just one minute in the tournament, according to The Guardian.
Balogun blends both jobs. The striker shields defenders, finds pockets behind the line, and draws attention that frees Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman. That lets Pochettino keep the passing triangles on the left and right that have defined US buildup.
Where can the USA hurt Belgium tactically?
Belgium have held 57% possession through four games but struggled to turn control into chances, with Romelu Lukaku's role still unsettled. Center-backs Brandon Mechele and Arthur Theate defend passively, and Senegal nearly won by attacking wide and overloading full-backs.
The United States have matched Belgium's ball share at 58% in their four matches. If Pochettino keeps possession away from Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, Belgium's low press—just three high regains per game—could leave Thibaut Courtois exposed.
How big is the USA game tomorrow in Seattle?
Kickoff is 5 p.m. PT at Lumen Field, where the US beat Australia on June 19 and where The Seattle Times says the city could host one of the most significant nights in US men's soccer history. A quarterfinal berth—something the program has not reached in 24 years—is on the line.
Off the pitch, the drama is just as loud. Yahoo Sports notes the Americans moved from -115 to -140 to advance at DraftKings after Balogun's clearance, with regulation win prices tightening from +180 to +155 at Hard Rock Bet. For more offbeat headlines around big-game chaos, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man section.
What should fans expect from Pochettino?
Belgium's preparations were scrambled. They shifted from scouting Pepi or Wright to containing one of the World Cup's most in-form forwards. Pochettino, meanwhile, can prepare the biggest game of his international management career with his most trusted goalscorer available, The Guardian reports.
Monday's USA game tomorrow is less about reinvention than running the system Pochettino built all tournament—with Balogun commanding focus in the heart of the final third while Pulisic, McKennie, and Tillman attack the box on cutbacks.