Two US Soccer Team Staff Members Suspended by FIFA for Belgium World Cup Game
FIFA gave no reason for suspending team manager Sam Zapatka and security vice president Frank Pannell, and the U.S. said it was not linked to Folarin Balogun.
- FIFA suspended two United States soccer staff members from the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle on Monday, July 6, 2026.
- Discipline imposed on team manager Sam Zapatka and Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell remains unexplained, as FIFA's disciplinary preview listed no reason for the suspensions.
- The USSF stated Tuesday the suspensions were unrelated to the successful effort to lift Folarin Balogun's one-game red-card suspension before the match.
- A 4-1 loss to Belgium eliminated the United States from the World Cup, marking the final game of the team's tournament run.
- Zapatka has served as administrative manager since 2020 and joined the USSF in 2015, while Frank Pannell manages security operations as vice president.
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84 Articles
It was not clear why, but it probably had something to do with the fact that Folarin Balogun, who was sent off against the Bosnians, went back onto the field to celebrate after the match.
Top US Soccer staff mysteriously suspended ahead of deflating World Cup loss?
Two staff members of the U.S. soccer team were suspended by FIFA from Monday’s round of 16 game against Belgium. FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline on team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell. The USSF did not give a reason Tuesday other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have forward Folarin Balogun’s one-game, red-card suspension lifted. Zapatka has bee…
Spectrum Local News
Two U.S. soccer team staff members suspended by FIFA for Belgium World Cup game
FIFA did not explain why it imposed the discipline.
Reason Why FIFA Suspended Two United States Staff Members Before the Belgium Match Explained
The United States men's national team's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign ended in disappointment with a heavy defeat to Belgium, but the result was not the only development to emerge from the Round of 16 tie. It later emerged that FIFA had suspended two senior United States staff members before kick-off, with the governing body initially offering no explanation. The lack of detail prompted widespread speculation until reports shed light on the reaso…
US Soccer officials barred by FIFA from Belgium World Cup match over apparent protocol violations: report – Democratic Accent
FIFA issued suspensions to at least two key members of the U.S. Soccer Federation ahead of Monday’s World Cup matchup with Belgium, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported that team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation Vice President of Security Frank Pannell were the two staff members barred from the match. The U.S. went on to suffer a 4-1 loss to Belgium, ending its 2026 World Cup run. The tournament’s governing body did not pro…
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