Three Possible Replacements for Folarin Balogun in USMNT's World Cup Round of 16 Clash
The U.S. men's national team approaches a critical round of 16 match at the World Cup, but they will miss their leading scorer, Folarin Balogun, who is suspended after a red card in the previous round. Since 2002, the USMNT has not advanced beyond this stage, with only one victory in the round of 16 occurring 24 years ago when they reached the quarterfinals. After winning Group D convincingly and defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, hopes of a deeper tournament run on home soil are growing.
Balogun has scored three of the team's ten goals so far, making his absence a big challenge. Here are three players who might fill his role against Belgium.
Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi seems like the most straightforward option to replace Balogun. He appeared briefly as a substitute in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and is now competing in his second World Cup. Although he has been inconsistent internationally and lacks the defensive work rate that manager Mauricio Pochettino values, his attacking skills remain solid.
Pepi scored 19 goals and added two assists for PSV Eindhoven during the 2026-27 season, showing his scoring ability even after recovering from injuries. His style relies on pace and movement, which may require teammates to deliver quick ground passes for him to chase. Against Belgium’s defenders, who just played a taxing extra-time match, Pepi's freshness could be an advantage.
He has netted 13 times in 40 appearances for the USMNT but does not bring the same all-around qualities as Balogun.
Haji Wright
If physicality and aerial presence are needed, Haji Wright offers those traits. The Coventry City striker, who helped secure promotion to the Premier League with 17 goals in 31 games, will join England's top flight next season. Wright's strength could wear down Belgium’s defense, though he lacks the speed of Pepi or Balogun.
Fitness is a concern since he hasn’t played more than 70 minutes since late April and has only seen limited action since early May. Still, his imposing style might provide a different approach up front.
Brenden Aaronson, With Tactical Changes
Brenden Aaronson is not a natural striker, and his recent performance against Türkiye was underwhelming. Yet, his versatility could offer a creative solution. Pochettino might shift Aaronson to the left wing and push Christian Pulisic into a central forward role, starting without a traditional striker.
This strategy would be unorthodox but could unsettle Belgium tactically. Aaronson's Premier League experience means he is comfortable handling pressure, which might help the USMNT find new attacking patterns without Balogun.
