Folarin Balogun had three countries to choose from. On Friday night in Los Angeles, the striker justified his decision in emphatic fashion.The 24-year-old scored twice on his World Cup debut as the United States overwhelmed Paraguay 4-1 to begin their first home World Cup in 32 years with the biggest victory in the nation’s tournament history.In front of a sold-out crowd of 70,492 at SoFi Stadium and with former England captain David Beckham among the spectators, Balogun became the first American to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1930.That year, Bert Patenaude netted a hat-trick against the same opponents, Paraguay, in what remains the first hat-trick in World Cup history.
From Brooklyn to London via Nigeria
Balogun’s path to the American team has been anything but conventional.Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, he moved to England when he was just a month old and grew up in London. He joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight and represented England at various youth levels while also appearing for the United States Under-18 side.Eligible to play for England, Nigeria and the United States, Balogun committed his international future to the Americans three years ago. With England blessed with attacking talent and Nigeria absent from this World Cup, the AS Monaco striker is rapidly becoming one of the faces of football in the United States.
Pulisic and Balogun punish Paraguay
The Americans took the lead in the seventh minute when Christian Pulisic’s brilliant run down the left forced an own goal from Damián Bobadilla.Balogun thought he had doubled the advantage moments earlier only for an offside flag to deny him. He made no mistake in the 31st minute, finishing after another surging run from Pulisic, whose 21st career assist moved him level for fourth-most in US history.Balogun struck again in first-half stoppage time, collecting Malik Tillman’s pass, creating space with a clever pause and firing brilliantly into the top corner to give the hosts a commanding 3-0 lead.Maurício pulled one back after the break, but Gio Reyna capped the night with his first World Cup goal deep into stoppage time.The United States had managed only three goals in four matches at Qatar 2022. Under Mauricio Pochettino, they surpassed that tally in one dazzling evening — and Balogun was at the heart of it.
