Pepi Favorite to Replace Balogun for USMNT vs Belgium
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- Folarin Balogun received a 64th-minute red card following a lengthy VAR review in the 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, ruling him out of Monday's round-of-16 match against Belgium; FIFA's disciplinary statutes prevent the card from being overturned outside of mistaken identity.
- Christian Pulisic told Balogun after the match, "I just told him he's done so much for us, and now we got his back," underscoring the team's resolve to absorb the loss.
- Mauricio Pochettino has three replacement options, but playing Pulisic as a false-nine isn't viable after that experiment against Portugal saw Pulisic win just 1 of 7 duels in 45 minutes with his back to goal.
- Ricardo Pepi has logged 184 minutes at this World Cup versus one minute for Haji Wright, and his season passing numbers (83.7% overall, 80.8% in attacking third) outpace Wright's (68.6% / 71.5%) despite the Eredivisie–Championship comparison caveat.
- Wright told reporters Wednesday he is ready for whatever role: "I'll always be ready and prepared for whatever comes."
- Pepi and Wright hold a clear aerial edge over Balogun — standing 2 and 5 inches taller, respectively — with Pepi scoring six headed goals at club level this season, Wright three, and Balogun just one.
- Antonee Robinson's 14.3% cross completion rate trails the 23.7% tournament average, meaning service into either replacement striker must sharpen to capitalize on that aerial mismatch.
Why it matters: Pepi's two-assist link play against Senegal now shoulders creative responsibility alongside Pulisic since Balogun's pace behind the defensive line is gone. Pepi and Wright outscored Balogun 9-to-1 on headed goals at club level this season, giving the U.S. an aerial edge, but Robinson's 14.3% crossing rate trails the 23.7% tournament average, capping how much that mismatch can be exploited Monday in Seattle.
