Could Folarin Balogun be the star of the World Cup for USMNT?

The World Cup is one of very few truly global events, capable of captivating the world of sport for a few brief weeks every four years. It is a competition that can turn unknowns into stars, and turn stars into legends.

That is particularly true for players representing a host nation. Think Geoff Hurst in 1966, Salvatore Schillaci in 1990, Zinedine Zidane in 1998; a home World Cup allows players to jump from athlete to icon, their place in the national imagination secured forever.

So, will anyone add their name to that list this summer? For nearly a decade, Christian Pulisic has been the anointed one for the USMNT. Weston McKennie, with his performances for Juventus, might be the team’s most in-form player, while Tyler Adams has the indefatigable style that American fans adore.

Any of those big-name players could go stratospheric with a memorable World Cup showing. But don’t rule out Folarin Balogun, the quietly-spoken, London-raised striker who might be about to have the biggest six weeks of his life.

From US to UK, and back again

Now 24 years old, Folarin Balogun looks like a natural pick for the United States as the central striker. He has an impressive scoring record with Monaco in Ligue 1 - the top tier of French soccer - and was recently named the club’s Player of the Season for 2025/26. But his route into the USMNT was a little more complex, sparking an international struggle for his sporting allegiance.

Balogun was born in Brooklyn, New York but moved to the UK when he was a baby and grew up in London. He was developed in the prestigious Arsenal academy but was soon on the radar of the US Soccer Federation, who first called him up to the national team set-up at U18 level. As a youth player he split his playing time between England and the United States but, in 2023, opted to declare for the USMNT and has been a regular in the senior team ever since.

Speaking at the team’s World Cup base in Irvine, California this week, Balogun spoke about his memories of that decision to choose the US: “I remember an immense amount of appreciation from the fans. I didn’t realize just how big football, or soccer, is out here in America. So to really feel that, in full force, was something that was inspirational to me and made my decision easier.”

“I’m extremely proud. I feel like my individual journey is full circle now, approaching a 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.”

World Cup goals

In the stifling pressure of a World Cup a single goal can be the difference between winning and losing, between success and failure. Throughout soccer history it is the goal scorers who are remembered most keenly and Balogun, as the USMNT’s biggest goal threat, could make himself a legend this summer.

After a slow start to the 2025/26 season, Balogun has hit form this calendar year and enjoyed a run of goals in eight consecutive games towards the end of the campaign. He came off the bench to score in the US’ warm-up game against Senegal last month and he is approaching the World Cup on one of his best scoring runs.

But that is not to say that his game is entirely dependent on providing the final touch. International teammate and USMNT captain Tim Ream described Balogun as “the most annoying striker” to face in practice, paying tribute to his all-round abilities.

Ream said: “[He is] able to hold the ball up, bringing other people into play. His movement in behind, being in position and getting himself into goalscoring positions is something that we’ve been crying out for for a long time. He brings that.”

“He’s probably the most annoying striker for me to have to deal with in training, because he is so quick with his movements. He’s physically strong and able to seemingly glide past people.”

US head coach Mauricio Pochettino has named three recognized strikers in his 26-man World Cup squad: Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright. Balogun played for 117 minutes out of a possible 180 in the two pre-tournament friendlies, suggesting that he will be the starting striker this summer. With a winnable game against Paraguay to begin the group stage schedule, Balogun will hope to get his first-ever World Cup off to a flying start.

Dealing with the pressure

For Balogun and many of his USMNT teammates, there is no longer much doubt about their top-level credentials. The majority of the starting XI has played in the ‘big five’ European leagues and many are regulars in the Champions League. The real question is whether or not they can pull together to do something special this summer, whether they can shoulder the pressure of playing in front of an expectant nation.

Balogun will have more pressure than most, as the man tasked with finding the back of the net in Pochettino’s favored 3-4-2-1 formation. It’s a big responsibility for the 24-year-old striker but he is relishing the chance to make his first appearance on the biggest stage in sport.

“I definitely think it’ll start to feel more real to me, the closer we get. But this is the first opportunity for me to play in a World Cup, I don’t really have any expectations and I’m just trying to stay present, stay in the moment and soak everything in.”

“I am enjoying the experience so far and I hope it can be a really memorable one.”

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