United States striker Folarin Balogun has revealed he anticipated controversy surrounding the overturning of his World Cup suspension, noting the effect it had on his teammates. Balogun received a red card during the round-of-32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended the one-match ban, allowing him to play in the next round. This decision sparked debate, with human rights group Fair Square filing a complaint against FIFA president Gianni Infantino for allegedly breaching political neutrality rules in his dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed to have intervened on Balogun's behalf.

Balogun expressed initial happiness to rejoin the team but soon realized the situation's controversial nature. He observed "a bit of nerves" among his teammates due to the unprecedented circumstances. Despite the "outside noise," Balogun focused on the game, receiving "reassurance" from his teammates. He maintained the red card for his tackle on Tarik Muharemovic was unwarranted, stating it was not intentional and undeserving of a red card, which he felt added unnecessary pressure.

Fair Square alleges Infantino, an IOC member since 2020, violated the Olympic Charter and code of ethics, particularly regarding the Balogun incident. FIFA has not provided an explanation for the ban's suspension. The situation highlighted the unique pressures faced by the team during the tournament.