In a dramatic wave of football emotions, Folarin Balogun found himself at the center of attention from both teammates and rivals. Christian Pulisic embraced him warmly, and Bosnia’s Sead Kolasinac gave him a consoling pat on the head. As Balogun made his way toward the exit at Levi’s Stadium, several substitutes approached to share their thoughts. Yet, how could they truly capture the essence of the 64-minute whirlwind Balogun had just experienced?

Facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun netted a crucial goal—the third in his World Cup journey—which placed the USMNT on a promising path to the last 16. His joy was short-lived, however, as an improbable red card threatened to sidetrack America’s summer aspirations.

Fortunately for the USA, they managed to avoid a setback. With ten men, under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the team showed resilience. Malik Tillman’s exceptional free kick, scored eight minutes before the final whistle, secured a 2-0 victory. The win not only brought a renewed sense of determination but also ended a long-standing streak of underperformance against European teams while marking only the second knockout round victory in their World Cup history. This achievement rightly stands as the headline.

Yet now, Pochettino faces the challenge of proceeding without his pivotal No 9 for at least one game, potentially more, depending on how Balogun’s suspension unfolds. The repercussions of this situation could be substantial. It’s baffling that under FIFA’s rules, red cards can only be contested on grounds of mistaken identity or if a player risks a multi-game ban.

Balogun joined a rare club, becoming the first player since Zinedine Zidane’s famous 2006 World Cup final to score and be dismissed in the same knockout match. His goal, amidst a chaotic first-half performance, included a disallowed goal, a stunning woodwork strike, and a rejected penalty appeal.

Then, midway through the second half, Balogun collided with Bosnia and Herzegovina center back Tarik Muharemovic. The defender went down in agony but no one inside Levi’s Stadium thought much of it until a message appeared on the big screen: VAR was checking for a possible red card. Cue a visit to the monitor for Brazilian referee Raphael Claus.

Replays showed Balogun’s studs running down the back of Muharemovic’s leg and then landing on the defender’s ankle. It was a painful one. It certainly didn’t look pretty when slowed down, frame-by-frame. Make no mistake, though, the decision to give a red card was a ludicrous one. 

This was a simple tussle, a tangle of legs as Balogun – eyes fixed on the ball – looked to secure possession for his side. There was no force, no intent. What are we doing? After all, only a couple of weeks ago, Lionel Messi escaped without a card after his studs-up challenge on the calf and Achilles of Algeria captain Aissa Mandi. 

Thankfully, Tillman – who has quietly been one of the stars of this team – made sure Claus’ decision didn’t impact this result. The midfielder deserved his goal and all the plaudits. He was superb. Next up? Belgium and a shot at a first quarterfinal since 2002.

It didn’t take long for Bosnia and Herzegovina to drag the US into uncharted waters at this World Cup. In all three group stage games, Pochettino’s team took the lead inside 12 minutes. Here, they had to wait half an hour to find the net. And until the cusp of halftime to break the deadlock.

What a whirlwind first 45 minutes this was for Balogun. Here’s a brief run-through all the chaos: first, Balogun went down under a challenge from Amar Dedic. There appeared to be contact but the referee said no. It would have been soft.

A few minutes later, Balogun found the net after Malik Tillman stole possession high up the pitch. This time, however, the offside flag denied the striker.

His goal eventually arrived in the 45th minute. It came with a hefty dose of good fortune that Balogun had earned with all his endeavor: from Tyler Adams’ neat backheel, Tillman slid a through-ball towards Balogun. It eventually reached the striker after diverting off two defenders. Balogun made no mistake, sliding the ball beyond Nikola Vasilj. He is now just one of three USA players to score at least three goals at a single World Cup and he celebrated with his own version of LeBron James’ signature ‘Silencer’.

Somehow the striker should have had a second before the break. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Adams clipped a pass to Sergino Dest at the back post. His header found Balogun, who could only loop a shot on to the bar. And breathe.

At the end of it all? The United States were in front and 45 minutes from the last 16. Bosnia and Herzegovina could have no quibbles with the scoreline – despite creating a few chances of their own.

The clearest couple came within moments of each other. First, from a long ball to Edin Dzeko, Ermedin Demirovic unleashed a shot that was parried by Matt Freese. Kerim Alajbegovic then curled the resulting corner under Freese’s crossbar, forcing the goalkeeper to claw it away. Either side of those scares, however, the US looked the more threatening side.

Pulisic, back in the starting lineup for the first time since America’s opening game, was bright off the left flank and McKennie’s runs in behind caused issues time and again.

On one occasion, his cross was pushed clear by Vasilj, who then paid a heavy price: the goalkeeper’s face collided with the knee of Antonee Robinson. Vasilj was still icing his left cheek during the first hydration break.

Boos greeted that pause and before long, more frustration rained down from the stands as the US banged and banged at the door. Eventually the home fans had the goal they craved.

Unfortunately, the early evidence of these knockout rounds suggested the drama was only about to begin. Before this, there had been nine games in the round of 32. Seven were decided no earlier than the 86th minute.

Bosnia and Herzegovina coach Sergej Barbarez, a former professional poker player, rolled the dice early in the second half, making three substitutions. Among those he threw on? Esmir Bajraktarevic, who was born in Wisconsin and represented the USMNT in 2024 before committing to Bosnia.

He is the son of refugees and the winger scored the goal that brought Bosnia and Herzegovina to this World Cup. In the end, though, neither Bajraktarevic, nor the referee, nor Ermin Mahmic – who came close with two stoppage-time shots – could halt the US’ march to the round of 16.

Pulisic thought he had secured victory when he scored with 12 minutes to go. Tillman was at the heart of it once more. But again the offside denied the USMNT. If only for a few more minutes.

HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) — While Hershey is cherished for its reputation as the “Sweetest Place on Earth” due to its rich chocolate legacy, it also boasts a different kind of star: Christian Pulisic. As the standout player of the U.S. national soccer team, Pulisic heads into the World Cup with high hopes as part of the team hosting the prestigious event.

On Wednesday, the team triumphed over Bosnia-Herzegovina, ensuring a place in the round of 16 where they will face Belgium this coming Monday.

“Hershey means the world to me—it’s my family’s home, the place where I grew up,” Pulisic shared recently on Instagram. He was highlighting the new limited-edition Pulisic’s Milk Chocolate Bars by the Hershey Company, adorned with custom wrappers and his autograph. “It’s where I developed my skills, and it just feels like home.”

Growing up in the serene surroundings of south-central Pennsylvania, Pulisic’s early years were filled with farm landscapes and gently rolling hills. Notably, Chocolate Avenue’s streetlights here are uniquely designed to resemble Hershey’s Kisses. This community was established in 1903 by Milton S. Hershey, the visionary entrepreneur who not only founded the Hershey Company but also created a vibrant community complete with homes for workers, a hotel, and a theme park—a frequent Pulisic family destination.

Fast forward over 120 years, the Hershey Company remains at the heart of Chocolatetown, USA’s economy. Yet today, the legacy of “The Man Behind the Chocolate Bar” is shared with Christian Pulisic, the soccer star affectionately known as “Captain America.”

Pulisic inspires young soccer players in Hershey

Pulisic’s hometown roots run deep, and during the World Cup, his community has rallied around him as the U.S. plays some of its most exciting soccer ever.

“It’s pretty amazing that he came from Hershey and played for my club,” said Hershey High School rising freshman Cecelia Stefanelli who, on a recent afternoon, kicked a ball to score a goal on her father at a field where Pulisic played.

The Americans won their first World Cup elimination game in 24 years on Wednesday evening, defeating Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32 despite playing a man down for more than 35 minutes. They had a healthy Pulisic in action after the star missed the second group-stage game with a calf injury and played only 33 minutes as a sub in the final group match against Turkey.

“I’d love if USA won the World Cup; it’d make me happy,” said Stefanelli, a center back who also plays for the Pennsylvania Classics soccer club. Pulisic often credits the structure and coaches at PA Classics, where he played for eight years, with helping develop his skills. In 2021, he returned to the club for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new fields that he financed and helped design. It’s now known as the Pulisic Stomping Grounds.

The club is located in Lancaster County, surrounded by chicken and dairy farms that give off a pungent odor of fermenting feed and manure.

On a recent day, Liam Gustafson and Moussa Oumarou juggled a soccer ball and passed it back and forth as they warmed up for training in front of a huge collage of photos of Pulisic that trace from his childhood training to starring for the U.S. at the World Cup.

“It’s really special to see someone from around here, where we live, playing in the World Cup,” said Gustafson, a 17-year-old forward who dreams of playing pro soccer and calls Pulisic his role model. “It’s really inspiring to see someone who paved the way, so that we can do that someday.”

Pulisic’s path to USMNT stardom ran through Hershey

The road to soccer was paved early as Pulisic followed in the footsteps of his parents. He was born in Hershey on Sept. 18, 1998, to Kelley and Mark Pulisic, both former collegiate soccer players at George Mason University. His father went on to play pro indoor soccer for the Harrisburg Heat. The family moved to England for a year while Pulisic’s mother completed a Fulbright Program teacher exchange and their 7-year-old rising star played for the Brackley Town youth team.

“Mark and Kelley could write a playbook on how to raise a humble, smart, kind superstar, while maintaining family relationships,” said Tara Seymour, a family friend and retired health and physical education teacher at Hershey Middle School. She met the family at a soccer camp and became close friends with Pulisic’s mother.

“She just quietly said to me one time, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’ This is a kid who could juggle the soccer ball hundreds of times when he was in elementary school,” Seymour said. Pulisic, she said, would practice in his backyard for hours, trying to emulate the moves of pros he saw on TV.

“He has an intensity that couldn’t be taught,” she recalled. “I think he had the opportunity to go pro earlier or go to Europe earlier and they held back just to make sure emotionally and maturity-wise he was ready.”

When the family returned to Hershey, Pulisic joined PA Classics at the age of 10. The club’s president and co-founder Doug Harris said Pulisic’s talent allowed him to play with older age groups, and he was often the smallest player on the field.

“I think if you were to pull kids in the world who want to achieve the level of Christian Pulisic, you’d have millions that would step up, raise their hand. They’re all gifted; they all can play,” Harris said. “But there’s something fundamental about what Christian has been able to do and I’d credit Mark and Kelley Pulisic with a lot of that.”

Looking forward to the future of American soccer

The Americans’ only World Cup knockout win came on June 17, 2002, when they defeated Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16 in South Korea. Pulisic has said the team’s approach won’t change in this round and the mood remains light despite the high stakes.

“It’s just special to be here,” he said. “You just don’t want it to end.”

Ahead of the game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, PA Classics coaches Brittney Jakobson and Nick Jakobson took their children, Declan and Camden, to kick a ball at Pulisic’s former club. The Americans, they said, have a shot at winning the tournament. But their legacy goes beyond the trophy.

“Their goal is to inspire a generation and it’s really fun to see that happening in real time … to hear people going out and watching the games, to see people buying the jerseys,” Brittney Jakobson said.

“Pulisic, obviously, in the short term is a great kind of figure to follow,” said Nick Jakobson. “But he does very much encourage that it’s not just about him. It’s not about just these four years. It’s about the next eight, 12, 16. It’s forward-thinking, and they’re laying a good foundation for what we can build on.”

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

An unexpected fright unfolded on the beloved attraction, “It’s a Small World.”

Guests at Disney World faced an alarming incident during a mid-morning visit to the iconic ride, as a fire reportedly erupted while they were in transit.

Videos captured from within the attraction depict cast members swiftly mobilizing to tackle the situation, even as the boats proceeded on their path.

A TikTok video uploaded by user @Coach Bragg revealed a Disney team member utilizing a fire extinguisher to address the smoke hovering over the boats at Magic Kingdom. Additionally, another perspective was shared by TikTok user “lowkey.lilyana15.”

The uploader commented on the promptness of the response, noting, “Disney Cast Members were fast acting to extinguish the small fire!”

Online accounts circulating alongside the footage claim the incident was caused by a guest’s portable phone charger that allegedly ignited inside a bag during the ride.

One TikTok user wrote that the device, not the attraction, was responsible, saying: “This was a guest’s portable charger exploding – not Disney or the ride. You can blame them for a lot but not this one…”

Another user, Hanna, claimed a family member was involved and described the incident, alleging a child placed a bag containing a new magnetic portable charger between their legs before it burst into flames, forcing an evacuation of guests.

A separate comment from someone identifying as a Disney cast member also circulated online, backing up the account and saying the ride itself was not damaged, writing: “This is correct. SW CM here! Everyone is okay, including the ride itself.”

Disney has not publicly confirmed the cause of the reported fire.

The California Post has reached out to Walt Disney World for comment.

The incident comes as Disneyland in California has seen a separate string of ride disruptions and on-ride incidents in recent months, leaving guests briefly stranded or exposed to behind-the-scenes elements of attractions.

On May 27, the Haunted Mansion reportedly stalled near closing time, leaving riders stuck in the graveyard scene inside “Doom Buggies.”

Guests said they were initially told to remain seated while cast members worked on an evacuation plan before the ride lights were turned on to assist with exiting.

Riders described sitting for several minutes in the illuminated scene before being instructed on how to manually release restraints and exit the ride vehicles.

In another recent incident at Disneyland, a 13-year-old boy reportedly went over a waterfall on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure after allegedly attempting to exit a ride vehicle as it approached a roughly 50-foot drop, according to footage obtained by TMZ.

The ride was stopped immediately.

The teen was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and later released.

Officials said the attraction was inspected by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) and reopened the following Monday without issue.

The District of Columbia has agreed to a settlement with a protester who was arrested after following an Ohio National Guard patrol and playing the iconic Darth Vader theme from “Star Wars” on his cellphone.

According to court documents obtained by The Associated Press, Sam O’Hara will be compensated $50,000 after alleging that he was unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force.

O’Hara, an artist in the hospitality industry, expressed satisfaction with the settlement, although he expressed concerns over taxpayers footing the bill. 

In a statement given to The AP, he remarked, “Those who violated my constitutional rights should be the ones held accountable, perhaps through their pensions. That’s what real accountability entails.”

On Sept. 11, 2025, O’Hara reportedly walked behind several National Guard troops down a street and played “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars” on his phone.  

He alleged that his protest, which the lawsuit characterized as satire, was aimed at President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops patrolling D.C. neighborhoods 

According to the lawsuit, one of the National Guard members called police, who stopped O’Hara and kept him handcuffed “tightly” for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges. 

The following month, O’Hara sued Washington, D.C., four Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and an Ohio National Guard member. 

In court documents, O’Hara alleged the defendants violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights, accusing them of unlawfully restricting free speech and initiating an unlawful seizure while using excessive force.

The lawsuit sought compensatory and punitive damages for claims including false imprisonment, battery and constitutional retaliation.

Last August, Trump began deploying National Guard members after declaring a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

The increased federal presence heightened tensions among some residents in the heavily Democratic district who criticized the deployment as an overreach of federal authority.