Three Possible Replacements for Folarin Balogun in USMNT’s World Cup Round of 16 Match
The U.S. men’s national team enters the World Cup round of 16 without its leading scorer, Folarin Balogun, who was suspended following a red card in the previous match. This upcoming clash against Belgium is a must-win scenario, and the absence of Balogun leaves a big hole in the lineup.
Since 2002, the USMNT has not gone beyond the round of 16 at the World Cup. Their only victory at this stage came 24 years ago during their solitary run to the quarterfinals, where they defeated Mexico before losing to Germany. The team's best-ever World Cup finish remains the semifinals in the first-ever tournament in 1930, though that event featured just 13 teams and directly advanced to the final four knockout round.
After topping Group D and beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32, hopes have risen that the U.S. could make a deep run on home soil. Yet, Balogun's suspension means someone else will have to step up and fill his role as a key goalscorer. Here are three candidates who might take on that responsibility.
Ricardo Pepi: The Leading Contender
Ricardo Pepi is the most obvious choice to replace Balogun. He came on for a brief three minutes in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, showing energy and promise. At 23, Pepi is playing in his second World Cup and has been viewed as a significant attacking option for some time. Still, his international form has been inconsistent, especially defensively, which has limited his starting appearances under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Pepi’s style isn’t as varied or physically imposing as Balogun’s, but he shares similar goal-scoring abilities. In the 2026-27 season, he scored 19 goals and provided two assists for PSV Eindhoven across the Dutch Eredivisie and UEFA Champions League. These numbers came despite recovering from injuries like a broken arm, proving his scoring threat remains intact.
Belgium’s defense, led by Arthur Theate and Brandon Mechele, may pose a challenge, but Pepi’s fresh legs could be an advantage after Belgium’s exhausting 120-minute match against Senegal. His ability to chase down balls and score makes him a reliable if somewhat one-dimensional option.
Haji Wright: Physical Presence with Aerial Threat
Haji Wright offers a different approach. As a striker for Coventry City, he helped secure promotion to the Premier League by scoring 17 goals in 31 games. Wright brings a stronger physical presence and aerial threat, traits Balogun also provides, although he lacks the same pace.
His style could help wear down Belgian defenders, setting up opportunities for other attackers like Pepi. Concerns linger about Wright’s match fitness and sharpness, given he has not played more than 70 minutes since late April and hasn’t been on the pitch for more than 15 minutes since early May. The summer heat and intensity could further impact his performance.
Brenden Aaronson: An Unconventional Tactical Shift
Brenden Aaronson is not a traditional striker, but he might be part of a creative solution. Although he struggled in the loss to Türkiye, Aaronson’s versatility and experience in the Premier League show he can handle pressure.
One possible adjustment would be to move Christian Pulisic into a central forward role, with Aaronson taking the left wing. This setup means the USMNT would start without a pure striker, which is unusual but could unsettle Belgium’s defense. Coach Pochettino might consider such tactical risks to keep the opposition guessing and inject unpredictability into the attack.
These options highlight different ways the USMNT might adapt to Balogun’s absence as they aim to make history and advance further than ever before in a World Cup.
