FIFA barred at least two US Soccer Federation staff members from Team USA's World Cup last-16 match against Belgium on Monday, according to multiple reports. The two officials were named as team manager Sam Zapatka and vice-president of security Frank Pannell. The bans came at a highly sensitive moment for the US camp, though they did not alter the outcome on the pitch: the United States lost 4-1, ending their 2026 World Cup campaign.

FIFA gave no public reason for the suspensions, but ESPN sources linked them to incidents during the US win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round, reportedly involving breaches of match protocol and individuals possibly entering restricted areas, with no physical altercations known. US Soccer stressed the bans were unrelated to the separate row over striker Folarin Balogun, whose red-card suspension FIFA overturned to let him play. That decision drew a Belgian appeal, which FIFA rejected, and President Donald Trump said he had phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the sending-off.