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The United States Men’s National Team got off to a thrilling start in their first game of the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles, California, thanks to Folarin Balogun.
He scored twice in that game to further boost his star profile as one of the best players on the roster, and he might have never represented the team, seeing as he faced a big decision.
Balogun could have chosen to play for either Nigeria or England due to his unique background. His parents are Nigerian and were living in London, but he was born in New York in America.
His mother was seven months pregnant while visiting the States, but was denied boarding for a flight back to London due to safety concerns over her being too heavily pregnant. If that hadn’t occurred, Balogun wouldn’t be playing for the USMNT.
More news:Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s World Cup Claim Draws Doubts From Former USMNT Player
Folarin Balogun of the United States during practice on June 11, 2026 in Irvine, California. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
He still could’ve decided to play for England or Nigeria. During an appearance on live video chat during Fox Sports’ coverage of the World Cup, the USMNT star explained what led him to choose the United States as his country to represent.
“I made the decision about three, maybe three and a half years ago, and the fans, the support I was getting, really motivated me to make my decision,” Balogun said. “Also, I think the ambition of the American people and the culture is something that really inspires me.”
One could only imagine how scary England might be right now with a team that not only featured star player Harry Kane, but also Balogun as one of their scoring threats. England also got off to a great start with a win over Croatia, fueled by Kane’s two goals, to take control of Group L.
Meanwhile, Nigeria definitely could’ve used Balogun’s services as they were unable to qualify for this year’s World Cup, finishing second in their CAF qualification group behind Africa, before losing in the playoffs.
That said, Balogun’s participation for the United States seems to be the key to them going on their deepest run in USMNT World Cup history, as they’ve won their group for only the third time in history, and are qualified for the Knockout Phase. They’ve also had Christian Pulisic dealing with injury, as he was sidelined for their second game against Australia.
Balogun and the USMNT face Turkiye on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET in a Group match that carries little significance for the USMNT, so it would be surprising if many of the team’s key players are on the pitch much, if at all.
More news:Lamine Yamal Scores First World Cup Goal Earlier Than Messi, Ronaldo
For more about the FIFA World Cup, visit Newsweek Sports.
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He scored twice in that game to further boost his star profile as one of the best players on the roster, and he might have never represented the team, seeing as he faced a big decision.
Balogun could have chosen to play for either Nigeria or England due to his unique background. His parents are Nigerian and were living in London, but he was born in New York in America.
His mother was seven months pregnant while visiting the States, but was denied boarding for a flight back to London due to safety concerns over her being too heavily pregnant. If that hadn’t occurred, Balogun wouldn’t be playing for the USMNT.
More news:Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s World Cup Claim Draws Doubts From Former USMNT Player
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Folarin Balogun of the United States during practice on June 11, 2026 in Irvine, California. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
He still could’ve decided to play for England or Nigeria. During an appearance on live video chat during Fox Sports’ coverage of the World Cup, the USMNT star explained what led him to choose the United States as his country to represent.
“I made the decision about three, maybe three and a half years ago, and the fans, the support I was getting, really motivated me to make my decision,” Balogun said. “Also, I think the ambition of the American people and the culture is something that really inspires me.”
One could only imagine how scary England might be right now with a team that not only featured star player Harry Kane, but also Balogun as one of their scoring threats. England also got off to a great start with a win over Croatia, fueled by Kane’s two goals, to take control of Group L.
"A couple people decided a woman was too pregnant to fly, now U.S. soccer is gonna win the World Cup."@MadelynBurke shares the story of how Folarin Balogun was eligible to play for Team USA️ pic.twitter.com/ygAO15jaMH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2026
Meanwhile, Nigeria definitely could’ve used Balogun’s services as they were unable to qualify for this year’s World Cup, finishing second in their CAF qualification group behind Africa, before losing in the playoffs.
That said, Balogun’s participation for the United States seems to be the key to them going on their deepest run in USMNT World Cup history, as they’ve won their group for only the third time in history, and are qualified for the Knockout Phase. They’ve also had Christian Pulisic dealing with injury, as he was sidelined for their second game against Australia.
Balogun and the USMNT face Turkiye on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET in a Group match that carries little significance for the USMNT, so it would be surprising if many of the team’s key players are on the pitch much, if at all.
More news:Lamine Yamal Scores First World Cup Goal Earlier Than Messi, Ronaldo
For more about the FIFA World Cup, visit Newsweek Sports.
Related Articles
- Brazil's Marta Reacts to Lionel Messi Besting Her as All-Time World Cup Scorer
- AJ Dybantsa Makes Bold LeBron James Claim 24 Hours Before 2026 NBA Draft
- Latest Christian Pulisic Update Is Good News for US Soccer
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