USMNT Buzzes as Balogun’s Suspension Lifted Hours Before Belgium Showdown

“Lit,” defender Chris Richards described the reaction on the bus as word spread. “To be fair, we were lit on the bus regardless. We had our speaker in the back listening to music. Then one person said something, another person said the same thing, and nobody wanted to confirm it. It was pretty much right when we got here that we found out it was true.”

Balogun himself had been informed before boarding the bus but kept the news close to the vest. “I just saw a big smile on his face,” captain Christian Pulisic said. “I got to see him and dap him up after that. Knowing we’re gonna have him around tomorrow, it helps so much. It’s a big boost.”

Because the coaching staff had not yet settled on a replacement, Pulisic noted the development wouldn’t force a tactical overhaul. “Of course you have other guys filling in and trying to figure out what the lineup could look like, but we didn’t have anything set,” he said. “It’s not like some crazy adjustment we need to make.”

In front of cameras, players struck a more measured tone, though Richards admitted, “A lot of us thought it was AI at first.”

“We’re just so happy that he’s here with us,” defender Alex Freeman added. “Balo is such a talented player, so I’m just happy he’s able to come out and be a very impactful force.”

The squad reportedly learned of the decision the same way the public did: through social media reports. “Some guys were playing Clash Royale, some guys were in the back listening to music,” Richards recalled. “I think somewhere in between we all heard the reports, so that was cool.”

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