Before Folarin Balogun ever kicked a ball for the United States, his mother had already decided he would.
"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," Florence Balogun told ESPN. That's not just maternal pride talking — there's a real story behind it.
Florence, who was born in Nigeria and works as an accountant in London, was seven months pregnant when she flew to New York in 2001 to visit relatives. Her airline refused to let her fly back without a doctor's note. So she stayed at her sister-in-law's two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, gave birth to Folarin in July, and had him back in London by the end of August. That accidental American birth certificate ended up meaning everything.
Three countries, one choice
Balogun was eligible to represent Britain, Nigeria, or the United States — a rare set of options that most players never face. His father Ben, also Nigerian-born, was part of the conversation. But it was Florence who made her position clear from the start.
"She's a big believer that you should go to where your heart is desired," Folarin said. The outpouring of support from American fans during his rise helped swing it too. In the end, though, the call was his. "It was about me naturally just feeling that this is the best thing, and that this is what I wanted to do."
For USMNT's depth and long-term ambitions, that decision matters. Balogun brings a profile — a clinical striker with European club experience — that the squad genuinely needed. His early-career spell at Reims showed he could score at a consistent clip in Ligue 1, and his family made sure he wasn't doing it alone. While playing in France, his parents and siblings traveled from London to nearly every home game, with the occasional unannounced appearance thrown in.
Red cards, FIFA appeals, and what comes next
His USMNT run hasn't been without turbulence. A red card during the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina threatened to derail his tournament, before FIFA reversed the suspension following an appeal — one that reportedly had backing from President Donald Trump. Ahead of the match against Belgium on July 6, FIFA's appeal committee also dismissed a Belgian objection to his eligibility.
Balogun grew up in London as the middle child — older brother Royce, younger sister — and says the sibling dynamic shaped him. "We played a lot of football and did a lot of things together," he said of his childhood with Royce.
"I definitely needed them in the beginning to just encourage me and motivate me to keep going." That support system didn't stop when he turned professional. It just moved to the away end.
