From a chance birth in Brooklyn to the World Cup: Folarin Balogun's American story

IRVINE, Calif. — First things first: Folarin Balogun did not end up watching Netflix after his two-goal World Cup debut, after all.

“I couldn’t find anything good to watch,” he said in a Yahoo Sports interview Monday.

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So no Netflix, as he had suggested he would do upon returning to the USMNT‘s oceanside resort following the 4-1 romp over Paraguay on Friday at SoFi Stadium.

And no collective reveling, either.

“We’re still in camp and we’re still focusing on the next game,” he said. “We’re in an intense tournament, so when we’re finished, that’s when the celebrations will come out.”

The 24-year-old striker did, however, allow himself to appreciate the historic accomplishment of becoming the first U.S. multi-goal scorer at a World Cup since Bert Patenaude’s hat trick against those Paraguayans in 1930.

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“Definitely, I’m giving myself time to step away and just process what a special night it was for the team and myself also,” he said. “It’s what you dream of as a little kid.”

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Since joining the national team three years ago, Balogun has injected a world-class striker’s menace into the U.S. attack — something that was lacking at the 2022 World Cup.

“The kid’s insane,” teammate Christian Pulisic said. “He’s lethal right now in front of goal. We’re really lucky to have him. We’re just hoping it keeps coming like this.”

Balogun increased his international goal total to 11 in 28 appearances. He also continued a searing run of form that took hold in Monaco‘s Ligue 1 and Champions League campaigns. For club and country, he has posted 14 goals in 19 appearances since mid-February.

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U.S. forward Haji Wright called Balogun a “very disciplined pro. He takes his work very seriously. … It’s obvious to see why what happened the other day happened.”

Balogun and the U.S. will aim to sustain their attacking rhythm this Friday in Seattle against Australia, which also won its opener by surprising Türkiye, 2-0.

“You can’t fluke your way to these sorts of performances,” Balogun said. “It comes from intense work over a long period of time, and then when you get to a stage like this, it’s just about playing free, [applying] everything you’ve been learning.”

Balogun credited coach Mauricio Pochettino for instilling proper ideas and tactics over the past year.

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“The coach has given us the foundation to be able to be so intense and have such a dominating structure — the combinations he tells us to play with and the freedom he gives us,” Balogun said.

Balogun deserves much of the credit though his movement off the ball, strength under pressure and, of course, his finishing touch.

Friday’s first goal was a one-touch strike in the box set up by Pulisic. On the second, he received Malik Tillman‘s gorgeous through ball and used his speed, strength and picture-perfect shooting accuracy to extend the lead to 3-0 just before halftime.

Throughout the half, he was instrumental in putting Paraguay under pressure in its own end.

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“I think we saw a different side of ‘Flo’ — the guy who can do the dirty work, the guy who can get stuck in and put his body on the line for the team and be a clinical finisher,” midfielder Weston McKennie said.

Balogun’s story — well, at least, the very short prologue — began in Brooklyn. Visiting from England, Florence Balogun progressed too far along in her pregnancy to fly back to London. So she gave birth to Folarin in New York and, through the 14th Amendment, he received birthright citizenship. They stayed with family for about two months before returning home.

So that’s how Balogun — bred in London to Nigerian immigrants — is qualified to represent the U.S. on the field.

As for the qualities that earned him a place on the pitch, those developed at the Arsenal youth academy alongside current English star Bukayo Saka, another son of Nigerian immigrants. Balogun and Saka would go on to play together twice for Arsenal‘s first team in the 2021-22 League Cup.

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With Balogun’s career blossoming — he flourished on loan at Reims in France before making a permanent move to Monaco almost three years ago — the English national program took notice. In 2018, he was named to the squad for the Under-17 Euros. His U.S. ties, though, had become known to the U.S. Soccer Federation.

“In the football world, people just speak,” he said, “and I must have just come to light through conversations about my U.S. citizenship.”

So later in 2018, Balogun accepted an invitation to a U.S. U-18 camp for an unofficial tournament in the Czech Republic.

“I had heard a little bit about him,” said Marcelo Palomino, a midfielder currently with second-division Orange County SC, whose Irvine stadium is the centerpiece of the U.S. base camp this month.

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“I was intrigued and curious, and then seeing he was in Arsenal’s academy at the time made it even more intriguing. We all wanted to see what his level was like. Let’s just say he didn’t disappoint.”

Though he didn’t have strong U.S. ties, Balogun said he “wanted to experience [the youth camp]. I’m somebody who’s always open-minded. I want to give myself the opportunity to experience things and then I can make a decision from there. That situation was no different. It planted a seed in my head.”

The seed did not germinate right away, though. He remained with England for the U-20 and U-21 cycles, the final steps to the famed Three Lions squad.

His mother, however, was high on the U.S.

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“For me to have gone to America and for me to have had him there, it is just something that has really stuck with me,” she told ESPN in 2023. “Even when he wasn’t even thinking of making an international decision, I’d already made up my mind that he is going to play for America.”

The turning point came in 2023. In Orlando while the U.S. senior squad was in camp there, he met with U.S. officials and players.

“They made me feel welcome,” he said.

The fans also played a part, through messages to his social media accounts.

“The fans gave me so much motivation,” he said. “They showed me so much support.”

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Because Balogun had appeared in official youth competition for England, he needed to apply to FIFA for a one-time switch. Almost five years after his lone appearance at a U.S. camp, he was on course to change the national team’s attacking fortunes.

In ensuing camps, Balogun has built strong bonds with the established players, including McKennie.

“I’m still reserved and Weston’s still bothering me,” he said with a grin. “We sat next to each other on the plane [last month]. I’m trying to have a nap and he’s flicking my ear.”

Balogun brushes off criticism of representing a country he has never lived in.

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“It doesn’t cross my radar,” he said. “There’s going to be critics.”

Of Colombian heritage, Palomino said “that’s what’s so cool about the U.S., in that you have people from all different kinds of backgrounds representing the country.”

It doesn’t get much more American than becoming a New York Yankees fan, as Balogun has done. (His favorite player was Babe Ruth.) He also got caught up in the Knicks’ NBA championship run, thanks in part to midfielder Tyler Adams, a super fan.

“I’m getting into all these things as I’m getting older,” he said.

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Balogun also embraces the opportunity of growing the sport in the U.S.

What’s more American than that?

“The best thing we can do is inspire the nation,” he said. “Make a stand, make a statement. I want young kids to grow up and to be inspired by what we’re doing here now. I want our journey to inspire millions of kids around America. My primary focus is on what we’re doing here and to make sure we have a successful tournament.”

He’s off to a great start.