1 hour ago
22
A kid born in Brooklyn, raised in London, developed at Arsenal, and now starring in Monaco is about to do something no amount of passport shuffling could guarantee: play in a World Cup on home soil.
Folarin Balogun, the 24-year-old striker who switched his international allegiance to the United States in 2023, is set to feature in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the USMNT prepares for its opening match against Paraguay. For a player whose career has been defined by choices, picking the right national team at the right time might be the best decision he ever made.
The long road to this moment
Born on July 3, 2001, in Brooklyn, he moved to England as a child and climbed through Arsenal’s vaunted academy system. He was eligible to represent England, Nigeria, and the United States at the international level.
He chose the Stars and Stripes in May 2023. The timing was not coincidental.
That decision came on the heels of an absurd 2022-23 season on loan at Reims in France’s Ligue 1, where Balogun scored 21 goals. That tally set a record for an American player in a top-five European league.
His international debut arrived quickly. On June 15, 2023, Balogun stepped onto the pitch for the USMNT in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal. Three days later, he scored his first international goal in the final against Canada.
AS Monaco made the relationship permanent in August 2023, signing Balogun for a fee of €40 million.
Why Balogun matters for the USMNT’s World Cup hopes
His 2025-26 club season at Monaco earned him the club’s Player of the Season award after scoring 19 goals.
Leading into the World Cup, Balogun has been contributing in friendlies as well, including scoring against Senegal.
The USMNT is expected to lean on Balogun as its starting striker when the tournament kicks off. With the opener against Paraguay scheduled for June 2026, the stage could not be larger. This is a home World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
What to watch as the tournament approaches
For investors in the broader soccer ecosystem, Balogun’s World Cup performance could significantly impact his market value. Monaco paid €40 million for him. A standout tournament could push that valuation much higher, attracting interest from clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A.
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English (US) ·