After today's game: USA FIFA Balogun countryball meme
Dialogue
Overview
This is a four-panel countryball (Polandball) format meme referencing men's professional soccer. Panel 1: The United States countryball, designed with the US flag and wearing sunglasses, pleads to FIFA, with text above it reading "Fifa please it's not fair Give him back". Panel 2: A blue countryball representing FIFA responds with the text "Fine you can have Balogun", referencing player Folarin Balogun who was cleared to play for the US men's national team via FIFA eligibility rules. Panel 3: The US countryball is excited, with text above reading "Oh yeah Watch out Belgium, here we come!", expressing confidence ahead of a match against Belgium. Panel 4: The Belgium countryball (with Belgian flag design) stands next to a soccer ball, while a tiny, crying US countryball is shown, implying the US lost the match badly despite getting Balogun, subverting the earlier confidence for comedic effect.
Origin notes
This meme was originally posted to the Reddit:Meme subreddit, distributed via RSS feed, with the original title "After today's game". It references a real match between the United States men's national soccer team and Belgium where the US team underperformed significantly despite having secured the eligibility of star player Folarin Balogun through FIFA rulings. The meme uses the popular countryball (Polandball) comic format common on online forums for satirical commentary on national and international events.