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Folarin Balogun could person played for immoderate 1 of 3 countries. He chose the United States, and it paid disconnected with a splashy World Cup debut connected location soil.
The 24-year-old striker scored 2 goals arsenic the Americans opened with a 4-1 triumph Paraguay connected Friday (June 12, 2026) nighttime successful beforehand of a rabid and star-studded red, achromatic and blue-clad sold-out assemblage of 70,492 astatine SoFi Stadium.
FIFA World Cup 2026 | USA VS Paraguay LIVE updates
With retired England skipper David Beckham looking on, Balogun became the archetypal U.S. subordinate to people aggregate goals successful a World Cup crippled since 1930. Back then, Bert Patenaude scored each 3 goals successful a 3-0 U.S. triumph implicit Paraguay, the archetypal chapeau instrumentality successful World Cup history.
Balogun was calved successful the New York borough of Brooklyn to Nigerian parents. A period later, helium moved to England, wherever helium grew up successful London. He joined Arsenal's academy astatine property 8. He represented England astatine the younker level and besides played for the U.S. under-18 team.
England's roster is traditionally filled with stars. Nigeria failed to suffice for this World Cup. So Balogun is making himself an American household sanction during this summertime of soccer.
The U.S. took a 1-0 pb connected an ain extremity by Damian Bobadilla.
Balogun extended the pb to 2-0 erstwhile Christian Pulisic played the shot into the container to acceptable up Balogun with his 21st vocation assist. That tied Pulisic for 4th astir successful U.S. history.
Minutes earlier, Balogun astir had different goal, but it was called backmost erstwhile the U.S. was offside.
Undeterred, Balogun scored again conscionable earlier halftime, putting the shot successful the precocious near country for a 3-0 lead.
