Folarin Balogun scored two goals in the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay during their 2026 World Cup opening match, according to The Athletic. The striker’s performance establishes him as a primary offensive threat for the U.S. men’s national team in their home tournament.
Balogun’s Impact in World Cup Opener
The United States opened the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, a match defined by the performance of Folarin Balogun, according to The Athletic. Balogun’s two goals in the opener follow a season in which he scored 19 goals for Ligue 1 club Monaco, as reported by AP News.
The impact of the 24-year-old forward is felt both in the scoreline and in training. Captain Tim Ream described the striker as the most annoying striker for me to have to deal with in training
, according to The Athletic. This form follows a trend of high production in France; FanSided reports that Balogun has recorded 31 goals in 91 appearances for Monaco, with 19 of those coming this year.
The Recruitment of a Dual-National Striker
Balogun’s presence in the U.S. kit resulted from a recruitment process that mirrored high-level college sports, according to The Athletic. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Nigerian parents, Balogun moved to the United Kingdom at one month old and was raised in London, according to Wikipedia. He held eligibility for the United States, England, and Nigeria.
The process accelerated in March 2023 when Balogun withdrew from a call-up with the England Under-21s to train in Orlando, Florida, according to The Athletic. While the U.S. squad was also based in Orlando, interim manager Anthony Hudson reached out to the striker for a meeting.
The secret trip became public after Balogun posted a photo on Instagram. A fan identified a sign in the background reading Here To Chase Tail
, which belonged to a now-closed Orlando business called Pups Pub, according to The Athletic. Following this discovery, U.S. supporters spammed Balogun’s Instagram account with American flag emojis to encourage him to choose the U.S. over England or Nigeria.
Balogun’s one-time switch to the USA was approved by FIFA in April 2023, according to FanSided. He debuted in June 2023, scoring in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League, which the U.S. won, according to Wikipedia.
Career Progression from Arsenal to Monaco
Balogun’s professional trajectory began at Arsenal, where he joined the academy at age eight after being scouted from a Sunday League side called Aldersbrook, according to Wikipedia. He was part of the Arsenal U16 side that won the Liam Brady Cup in 2017, defeating Juventus, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, according to Wikipedia.
He signed a professional contract in February 2019 and made his senior debut in the Europa League on October 29, 2020, according to Wikipedia.
- Middlesbrough (2022): Joined the EFL Championship side on loan, scoring goals against Peterborough United, Birmingham City, and Sheffield United, according to Wikipedia.
- Reims (2022-23): Moved to the Ligue 1 club on loan, where he scored 22 goals. Wikipedia reports this is the highest goal tally ever for an American in a top five European league.
In August 2023, Balogun left Arsenal to sign with Monaco. There is a discrepancy in reported transfer fees: Wikipedia lists the cost at €40 million ($43 million), while FanSided reports it as €30 million. Balogun was subsequently named the 2025–26 Monaco Player of the Season, according to Wikipedia.
Solving the USMNT Scoring Problem
The acquisition of Balogun is viewed as a strategic solution to a long-term deficiency in the U.S. men’s national team. AP News reports that for nearly four decades, a lack of scoring has prevented the Americans from making significant progress in the World Cup.
Balogun’s decision to represent the U.S. was influenced by the opportunity for playing time and the prospect of playing at home.
wp:quote I feel like my individual journey is a bit full circle now, approaching the World Cup. Especially with the World Cup being here, the opportunity to represent my nation in front of a home crowd is going to be something special for me, for my family, for my friends and for the team. I’m definitely looking forward to it, and very proud.
FanSided suggests the move was also a pragmatic career decision, noting that Harry Kane’s presence in England and Victor Osimhen’s role in Nigeria created significant barriers to starting for those nations.
As of June 2026, Balogun has scored nine goals for the United States, according to FanSided. This tally includes a winning goal against Senegal and two goals during the Copa América. The New York Post characterized Balogun as the missing piece
the USMNT needed for the 2026 tournament.
