Folarin Balogun is expected to miss the next USMNT match against Belgium because of a suspension, and the most likely replacement is Ricardo Pepi. Reports also mention Patrick Agyemang as another option, while Brenden Aaronson is more of a tactical wildcard than a direct striker swap.

Who’s most likely

  • Ricardo Pepi looks like the straightforward replacement. He’s the clearest like-for-like forward option in the current setup.
  • Patrick Agyemang is another candidate if the staff wants a different physical profile up front.
  • Brenden Aaronson could be used in a more flexible attacking shape, but he is not a natural striker.

What the reports say

The reporting right now points to a short-term, match-specific replacement rather than a permanent change. Balogun’s absence is tied to an automatic one- game suspension, so the focus is on how the USMNT can cover him against Belgium.

Quick read

If you want the single best answer: Pepi is the favorite to replace Balogun for the next game. If the coach wants a different style, Agyemang is the main alternative.

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