FIFA World Cup: How an Airline Refusing to Let Folarin Balogun’s Mum Travel Made Him Eligible to Play for USMNT
- On Friday, June 12, 2026, striker Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
- Born in Brooklyn after his mother was stranded while pregnant, Balogun obtained citizenship through the 14th Amendment and chose to represent the United States over England and Nigeria in 2023.
- The United States scored four goals in a World Cup match for the first time, with defender Chris Richards completing all 83 passes and playmakers Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie driving the early attack.
- Speaking after the match, Balogun said, "I just want to continue to show the fans I made the right decision," as the team emphasizes building fan connection through their diverse squad.
- The United States will face Australia in their second group game on June 19, 2026, in Seattle, with players intending to maintain the aggressive, flair-filled approach displayed in their opener.
21 Articles
21 Articles
A Brave Airline Employee Might Be The Key To The United States Making A Deep Run In The FIFA World Cup
Folarin Balogun USMNT World Cup The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup went about as well as you could possibly imagine for the United States Men’s National Team. The U.S. raced out to a 3-0 lead over Paraguay in the first half, and then cruised home for a comfortable 4-1 victory. While several U.S. players made big impacts in the opening match, none made quite as big an impact as strike Folarin Balogun. The 24-year-old, who plays for AS M…
Folarin Balogun lives the World Cup ‘dream’ he and U.S. Soccer envisioned he would
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The fate of a game – or of a tournament, a national team, or even a movement to change the place of a sport in a country – sometimes rests on the foot of one player.
At the World Cup, America Can Start Dreaming Bigger
United States' Folarin Balogun (20) and Paraguay' Gustavo Gomez (15) vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Friday, June 12, 2026. —Ringo Chiu—Associated PressWhen Folarin Balogun decided in 2023 to switch allegiances from England, where he grew up competing for youth teams on the international level, to the United States, it was for this very reason: a chance to stand out for the ho…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
