FIFA Suspends 2 USMNT Staffers Before 4-1 Belgium Loss
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 7
FIFA Suspends 2 USMNT Staffers Before 4-1 Belgium Loss
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 7
Summary
Two U.S. men’s national team staffers — team manager Sam Zapatka and security vice president Frank Pannell — were suspended by FIFA before Monday’s World Cup loss to Belgium.
FIFA gave no public reason for the suspensions, and U.S. Soccer said only that they were unrelated to its successful appeal that restored Folarin Balogun after a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The suspensions surfaced a day after the United States exited the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 defeat, a result that initially overshadowed the off-field action.
Zapatka has handled USMNT administrative operations since 2020, while Pannell came to soccer security work after careers with the Secret Service and CIA.