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Mauricio Pochettino faces a surprising dilemma ahead of the U.S. men's national team's autumn friendlies, and it revolves around star forward Folarin Balogun.
Three months ago, Balogun was riding high, spearheading the USMNT's attack at a home World Cup. The striker netted three goals in his opening three matches and rapidly became a recognizable name across the country.
At that point, the idea of Balogun being left out of Pochettino's squads seemed absurd. But a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 triggered a chain of events that plunged the American into a whirlwind of controversy and doubt.
The situation grew even murkier when injury and a heavily criticized transfer saga entered the picture. Suddenly, Balogun is no longer a guaranteed selection for Pochettino, who will announce his squad for friendlies against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada on Thursday.
It's a delicate situation for both player and manager to handle. The final call may ultimately hinge on how Pochettino chooses to manage the turbulence surrounding Balogun.
Balogun Cannot Escape Controversy
All of Balogun's impressive work at the 2026 World Cup was immediately overshadowed when FIFA made the unprecedented move to lift his red-card suspension. The decision, announced just 24 hours before the United States faced Belgium in the round of 16, allowed Pochettino to deploy his top scorer in the tournament's most critical match, disregarding the existing regulations.
The controversy escalated further when U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the original red card and ban, muddying the waters between sporting integrity and political interference.
Despite Balogun bearing no responsibility for the chaos, he found himself at the center of a storm that continues to rage months on. The Royal Belgian Football Association is still pushing for the matter to be addressed at the next FIFA Council meeting.
Adding fuel to the fire, Balogun's name made headlines again when his proposed move to Everton collapsed on Deadline Day. The 25-year-old appeared set for a Premier League return before a medical examination raised red flags, prompting the Toffees to withdraw from the deal.
Monaco scrambled to complete another major sale, reaching an agreement with Chelsea for midfielder Lamine Camara. However, Everton returned to revive the Balogun deal, leading Monaco to abandon their arrangement with Chelsea — only for the striker himself to pull the plug at the last moment.
Chelsea and Everton were left without the reinforcements they desperately needed, while Monaco found themselves stuck with a player who not only wanted out, but had derailed their transfer plans in a very public and embarrassing manner.
Within days, the club excluded Balogun from their Conference League squad and signaled their intent to pursue a sale, though no deal ultimately materialized.
Injury Woes Only Complicate Matters
Things might be different if Balogun were turning heads with strong performances on the field. But the forward has not featured for a single minute since the USMNT's 4–1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6.
A minor knee problem kept Balogun sidelined throughout preseason and the opening weeks of 2026–27. He has since resumed training but is still working toward full fitness. Manager Filipe Luís hinted at a possible return over the weekend, though it would be far from peak Balogun given his two-month absence from competitive action.
Monaco's fixture against Lens on Friday represents the final chance for Balogun to see action before the international break. A brief substitute appearance or remaining unused on the bench would do little to inspire confidence in his fitness or sharpness ahead of four USMNT matches.
So What Does Pochettino Do?
Pochettino must now weigh whether to include Balogun in his squad or navigate the combined September-October international window without his most prolific scorer.
Taking a cue from former France manager Didier Deschamps, he might opt to leave Balogun at home. Deschamps famously dropped Kylian Mbappé from his November 2024 squad after the forward became embroiled in controversy at Real Madrid and fell out of form.
Deschamps argued it "was better this way" to allow Mbappé time to reset both physically and mentally — and the approach paid off.
Pochettino could follow a similar path, but leaving Balogun out may do more harm than good. The striker is already marginalized at Monaco and is undoubtedly eager to return to action after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The last thing the USMNT needs is one of its key players losing confidence and form at a time when the team is looking to build on World Cup momentum.
Furthermore, dropping Balogun would only generate more unwanted headlines around the American star — the exact opposite of what he needs following the red card and transfer controversies. And let's not forget, he remains by far Pochettino's most reliable goalscorer.
If Balogun is fit and available for the USMNT's friendlies, Pochettino should hand the 25-year-old a spot in his squad on Thursday. The alternative means more drama, more scrutiny and more distractions from the game — outcomes neither Pochettino nor Balogun can afford.