'우연히' 미국과 아스널에서 탈락한 선수가 마우리시오 포체티노의 역사적인 월드컵 스타가 된 이야기

The best USMNT striker since Clint Dempsey was barely born in the United States.

Folarin Balogun, who could’ve played for England or Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup, also relied on American fans to help him make a life-changing decision.

Folarin Balogun made history in his World Cup debutgetty

Born in the USA — and picking USMNT

“My decision to represent the United States, it came together with my family,” Balogun told US Soccer in May 2023, when his one-time change of association request was approved by FIFA.

“We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in. In the end it became a no-brainer. But, for sure, it’s just something I wanted to do and it feels like I’m at home here.”

The former Arsenal player definitely belonged in red-and-white stripes in USMNT’s World Cup opener, powering the team to a buzzing 4-1 win over Paraguay and becoming the first USA athlete since 1930 to score two goals in a World Cup game.

But Balogun playing for Maurcio Pochettino‘s 2026 team isn’t just the fulfillment of a personal dream — it barely happened and took a ‘massive’ belly to become reality.

“I don’t believe things happened by luck,” Florence Balogun told ESPN.

“I think 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.”

Balogun grew up in London, was scouted from a Sunday League team and joined Arsenal’s youth academy at 8 after trialing with Tottenham.

But Florence’s decision to take a vacation to New York in 2001, when she was seven months pregnant, became the real breakthrough.

Taking pressure off Captain America

After an airline refused to allow her to travel back to London without a doctor’s letter — “My belly was so massive,” Florence said — Balogun was born in Brooklyn and lived in the New York borough for about two months inside a family member’s two-bedroom apartment.

Twenty-five years later, Balogun is lifting pressure off Christian Pulisic, USMNT’s Captain America, and showing the football world he made the right choice in picking the USA over England and Nigeria.

The London-raised Balogun is only playing for USMNT because of an accidental birth in the USAgetty He used to play in empty stadiums while trying to start for Arsenalgetty

“Poch has said many times, ‘Why not us?’ ” said Balogun, after USMNT’s opening win. “You have to believe. You can’t do anything if you don’t believe in yourself.”

The 5ft 10in Monaco forward added: “I visualized my debut in the World Cup, scoring. But reality did surpass that by scoring two goals.”

His hometown is listed as ‘London, England’ on US Soccer’s official site.

Balogun, who was born to Nigerian parents of Yoruba heritage and often goes by the nicknames ‘Flo’ or ‘Balo’, highlighted fan support on social media when he made his pivotal international decision.

Fans helped Balogun make USMNT decision

“That’s when I really saw the full force of the US fans,” he said.

“I was there and I just posted a photo with my friends thinking that it was just a holiday picture. Before I knew it, I just saw loads of comments and people knew I was in America, and I just really felt the love from there.

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“There’s been a lot of build up, so I’ve obviously seen people saying that I should choose to represent the U.S. and it’s just something I’m really happy that I’ve decided to do.”

“To be honest I was a bit overwhelmed. I knew the U.S. was obviously a big country, but I didn’t realize how many people were involved in soccer, especially every time I went on social media I was seeing loads of comments with people saying I should choose to represent the U.S. It’s nice to feel that appreciation for sure.” 

Vibrant cheers echoed throughout Los Angeles Stadium last week, as USMNT leapt to the top of Group D by playing near-perfect football.

On Friday, Pochettino’s team will again try to set up an increasingly confident Balogun vs Australia — which surprisingly knocked off Turkiye — at Seattle Stadium.

The striker that Pochettino needs in World Cup

“In Folarin Balogun, you have somebody that is built to be that focal point, that number nine, that source of goals,” USMNT correspondent Ben Jacobs exclusively told talkSPORT.

“If he can get going, then suddenly the US Men’s National Team have got weapons, have got form, have got chemistry.”

Balogun will try to stay hot vs Australia on Fridaygetty

They have Balogun wearing a No. 20 red-and-white Stripes jersey because he was accidentally born in New York, then proudly chose the USA as his international football country.

USMNT badly needed a smooth striker and gave him the starting opportunity that a loaded England roster couldn’t.

“When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom,” Balogun said.

“She said, ‘What took you so long?’ So, for sure, we were all on the same page. Then after that conversation, I just sent the message across to my agent and said, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ “

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