Washington, July 8 -- Folarin Balogun apologised to United States supporters following the team's exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, saying the disappointment of their Round of 16 defeat would fuel the squad as they look to build on a tournament that showcased the country's growing football potential.

A day after the USA's 4-1 loss to Belgium ended the hosts' dream run, Balogun shared an emotional message on X reflecting on his first World Cup campaign.

"My debut World Cup... it hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer. I want to say sorry to our fans. It was not good enough when it mattered most, and we let you down," Balogun wrote.

"Soccer in America will only become bigger. The belief, the talent,...