Crazy life story of American hero of Nigerian descent: How did Balogun end up playing for USA?
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 13.06.26. | 19:10
The scorer of a brace for the USA in a 4-1 win against Paraguay, and an Arsenal academy player, earned his right to represent one of the World Cup host countries by a strange twist
Folarin Balogun.
That name is making headlines across the USA today. And how could it not be, when the Monaco striker shone in the Stars and Stripes 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup opener, scoring a brace. Mauricio Pochettino's men have shown they are rightfully considered candidates for at least the quarter-finals, while Balogun proved his Arsenal academy education was not in vain.
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Once he stepped into the spotlight, more details about his background emerged, and one of them stood out as the most bizarre - the way he became a USA international.
Of course, the simplest explanation is his American citizenship, but the way he got it is pretty peculiar, as Balogun was born to Nigerian parents and raised in England. But what is his connection to the USA?
It could be said that the hosts got their last night's hero through a remarkable twist of fate.
Folarin Balogun who scored two goals for USMNT, became a US citizen by accident when the airline refused to fly his mom back to England while she was pregnant with him
— The ANF Club ⚽️ (@adjorNfriends) June 13, 2026
Balogun was still in his mother Florence’s womb when, seven months pregnant, she visited New York on holiday in… pic.twitter.com/pvolz7p7jd
Back in 2001, when Folarin's mother, Florence, was pregnant, she visited New York on a holiday. However, when she wanted to go home to England, the airline staff refused to let her fly due to safety reasons over her advanced pregnancy.
Consequently, he was born in Brooklyn, New York, and did not return to London until he was two months old.
The rest is history.
Balogun moved through both Arsenal and England's youth categories, but neither gave him a chance with their senior teams. Hence, he found his place in the sun at Monaco and in the USA.
If he maintains this form throughout the World Cup, the Ligue 1 side will turn out to be just a stepping stone to bigger things.
All thanks to a holiday in New York, an advanced pregnancy, and strict airline rules.
WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE
First round
Thursday, 11.06.
Mexico - South Africa 2-0 (1-0)
/Quinones 9, Jimenez 67/
Friday, 12. 06.
South Korea - Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)
/Hwang In Beom 67, Oh Hyeon-Gyu 80 - Krejci 59/
Canada - B&H 1-1 (0-1)
/Larin 78 - Lukic 21/
Saturday, 13.06.
USA - Paraguay 4-1 (3-0)
/Bobadilla 7 og, Balogun 31, 45+5, Reyna 90+8 - Mauricio 73/
22.00: (12.0) Qatar (5.40) Switzerland (1.28)
Sunday, 14.06.
01.00: (1.62) Brazil (3.80) Morocco (5.80)
04.00: (6.80) Haiti (4.45) Scotland (1.47)
07.00: (4.50) Australia (3.50) Turkey (1.83)
20.00: (1.03) Germany (15.0) Curacao (50.0)
23.00: (2.10) Netherlands (3.45) Japan (3.50)
Monday, 15.06.
02.00: (3.60) Ivory Coast (2.90) Ecuador (2.30)
05.00: (2.00) Sweden (3.35) Tunisia (4.00)
19.00: (1.10) Spain (9.50) Cape Verde (27.0)
22.00: (1.70) Belgium (4.00) Egypt (4.75)
Tuesday 16.06.
01.00: (7.50) Saudi Arabia (4.20) Uruguay (1.47)
04.00: (1.95) Iran (3.35) N.Zealand (4.20)
22.00: (1.47) France (4.50) Senegal (6.75)
***odds are subject to change***