The pathway to representing the United States men’s national team for Folarin Balogun was paved by an unforeseen airline policy twenty-four years ago. Florence, his mother, recounted to ESPN how a travel restriction transformed her son’s international career.
While seven months pregnant, she was traveling from London to New York. When she tried to fly back to London, the airline denied her boarding due to her advanced pregnancy. This forced her to stay in the United States, where she gave birth to Folarin in Brooklyn, New York.
Just a month after his birth, Florence returned with him to London. He later joined Arsenal’s academy at age eight, advanced through the ranks, and represented England at youth levels up to Under-21, with occasional appearances for US youth teams.
In 2023, Balogun committed to the USMNT. In the 2026 World Cup, he scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, entrusted as the lead striker by coach Mauricio Pochettino.