Folarin Balogun, a Brooklyn-born forward, is preparing to help the US team achieve a first perfect World Cup group-stage campaign in their upcoming match against Turkey.

Unusual Journey to the World Cup

Balogun was born in New York in 2001 after his mother, Florence, was prevented from boarding a flight back to London. Raised in England by Nigerian parents, he played for England at youth level before switching allegiance to the United States in 2023.

“I’m very proud and very honored,” Balogun told reporters. “I feel like it’s happened in the way it has for a reason and for me to go out there in the first game and score two goals and win, for me it’s beyond explainable how special and unique my story is to be in here.”

The forward said the attention around his birth story was understandable during a tournament in which US players have drawn increased scrutiny from fans eager to learn more about them.

“I’m very proud to be American and to represent America,” he said. “The story has picked up a bit of attention, but I think it’s expected. We’re at the World Cup and it’s an opportunity for the fans to get to know more about us as players.”

Diversity in the US Squad

Balogun’s background is one of several international threads in a diverse US squad, which includes players born in the Netherlands, Germany, and Mexico, as well as Ricardo Pepi, who grew up in the border city of El Paso, Texas.

“The team has always been diverse since I’ve come here,” he said. “It’s no different from America, an extremely diverse place. But I think that the most important thing for us is to stay focused on what we’re doing here.”

The United States have secured top spot in the group, while Turkey have been eliminated, but the upcoming match at Los Angeles Stadium still offers a chance at history. The Americans have never won all three group games at a World Cup.

“The most important thing is to go out there and win,” Balogun said. “Three wins from three games is an opportunity to create history and to put a positive message out there, not just for ourselves but towards other teams.”

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.