The morning after a night when the USA made history – never before had this team scored four goals in a World Cup game; not since 1930 had any American player scored more than once in a single World Cup match.
On Friday in Los Angeles, Folarin Balogun helped alter both those records as he led the USA to a stunning 4-1 win over Paraguay on opening night of this home World Cup.
And yet for a while over on Truth Social? Tumbleweed. Until shortly before 11am in Washington, President Donald Trump was busy discussing peace talks with Iran, the UFC and the ‘execution’ of a Venezuelan drug trafficker.
Then came a short message: ‘Congratulations to Team USA on their Big Win, 4-1, over a very good Paraguay team. Keep it going!’ Trump wrote.
For once, he left everyone else to entangle politics and sports. And social media is awash with people wading in on Balogun and what lessons we can learn from his story. For the uninitiated, a quick recap: the forward was born in New York in July 2001 after his mother was blocked from flying back to the United Kingdom because she was too pregnant.
Within weeks, the family had returned to London and that is where Balogun grew up and fell in love with football. But that decision by that airline official made him eligible to play for the United States and, three years ago, the striker chose the Stars and Stripes over England and Nigeria, where his parents were from.
Folarin Balogun became the USA’s newest World Cup hero with two goals against Paraguay
The Monaco striker netted America’s second and third goals as the USA secured a 4-1 victory
Balogun mostly represented England at youth level before choosing to play for the USMNT
In the hours since he lit up Los Angeles, Balogun has become a lightning rod for a wider debate about what it means to be American. How ironic, people have rushed to point out, that his goals gave the USMNT liftoff at a time when Trump is attempting to alter rules around birthright citizenship.
It is a romantic story but one that rather conveniently ignores the different regulations governing US citizenship and which countries a soccer player can represent. Trump did not mention Balogun or his journey to the USMNT and there is little evidence that the striker will pay much heed to all the politics and all the noise.
He was asked after the game how he would toast a remarkable World Cup debut. First? The striker had doping control to pass. And then? ‘To be honest, I think I’ll probably just watch some Netflix,’ Balogun said.
Perhaps some time in front of the TV would allow him to digest what happened in Los Angeles.
‘It’s a dream. A dreamy night,’ Balogun continued. ‘I’ve not been able to take it all in… I’m sure when I get back to my hotel and I rest, I’m sure I’m going to really be able to be in the moment and experience how much of an amazing night this is.’
He continued: ‘I visualized my debut in the World Cup [and] scoring. But the reality did surpass that with scoring two goals. And the second goal was a fantastic goal as well. So a very dreamy, dreamy night.’
The striker will turn 25 midway through this World Cup. Who knows what new chapters he will have written by then? He has already been on a remarkable journey from the Big Apple to London and Monaco and now Los Angeles.
The striker joined Arsenal aged eight and rose through the academy before making the bold decision to leave and join Monaco in France’s top division.
The striker joined Arsenal aged eight and rose through the academy of the North London team
Manager Mauricio Pochettino looked delighted as his team celebrated at fulltime in LA
A few months earlier, he had made another big call. Despite mostly playing for England’s youth teams, Balogun chose the United States.
‘I don’t believe things happened by luck,’ his mother, Florence, previously told ESPN. ‘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. 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.’
He appeared to be the striker the US had long needed. That is why, in 2023, players and officials from US Soccer went on a mission to recruit Balogun.
The charm offensive included dinners, an invite to Yankees spring training, courtside seats to the NBA and a VIP pass to Universal. It worked.
Balogun’s debut came nearly three years to the day before he catapulted himself toward superstardom. ‘The kid is insane,’ Christian Pulisic said. ‘We’re really lucky to have him. And let’s just hope it keeps coming like this.’
Fans are starting to dream and wonder if Trump was right when he told Mauricio Pochettino’s players on the eve of the World Cup: ‘I think you have a really good chance of going all the way.’
So what’s Balogun’s verdict? ‘It’s important to take each game at a time,’ Balogun insisted. ‘But of course, Poch has said many times: “Why not us?” We have to believe. You can’t do anything if you don’t believe in yourself.’
And he was not alone at SoFi Stadium. Balogun was supported by a squad that rose to the occasion in stunning style and a 70,000-strong crowd that included many of his family.
Balogun and Christian Pulisic were instrumental as the US dominated Paraguay in Los Angeles
‘Too many,’ the striker joked. ‘I had to sort a lot of tickets but I’m happy to do it because this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. And I want everyone to experience it. I have family also all over the States watching and back home in London.’ Boy did he put on a show for them. The striker could have had a first-half hattrick but for the offside flag.
But the job is not done. With victory over Paraguay, the USMNT has one foot in the knockout stages. Australia and Turkey still stand in the way, however.
So there is plenty of time for this story to sour. There is also plenty of time for Balogun to write more history.
‘I’ve always said, the fans gave me so much motivation and showed me so much support,’ he said. For me, the most important thing has always been to repay that… I just want to continue to show the fans I made the right decision [choosing the US],’ he said. ‘I’m completely proud, and I want to continue to make the fans proud as well.’
