Who is Sam Zapatka? U.S. Soccer Team Manager FIFA Suspension
Sam Zapatka Biography – Sam Zapatka Wiki
Sam Zapatka is the team manager of the United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT). Zapatka joined the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2015 and has been in his current role since 2020. Prior to joining U.S. Soccer, Zapatka served as a team manager for USA Volleyball.
Zapatka graduated from the International School of Bangkok in 2010 and earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Springfield College in 2013. He is also a Certified Disability Sport Specialist (CDSS) by BlazeSports America.
FIFA Suspension
Team manager Sam Zapatka and U.S. Soccer Federation vice president of security Frank Pannell were suspended by FIFA from the team’s round-of-16 game against Belgium on July 7, 2026. According to ESPN, the offense related to the round-of-32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina and involved the mishandling of FIFA match protocols and people being in designated areas where they weren’t allowed. No physical altercation took place.
According to Front Office Sports, the cause of the two suspensions may have been U.S. striker Folarin Balogun coming back on to the field to celebrate the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32. Balogun was sent off in the second half of that game. Players who receive a red card are not allowed to return to the pitch after their dismissal.
The U.S. Soccer Federation did not give a reason for the suspensions other than to say it was not related to the successful effort to have Balogun’s one-game red card suspension lifted. The U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
