IRVINE, Calif. – FIFA World Cup 2026 is well underway, and as the goals pour in from across the three host nations of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, one U.S. Men’s National Team player is eager to continue climbing the charts and become one the top goal scorers in the tournament.
Striker Folarin Balogun announced himself on the world stage in the team’s first group stage match, scoring twice in one half for the U.S. in his FIFA World Cup debut on June 12 versus Paraguay. His two goals were the second and third in a dreamy win for a home side that jumped to an energetic 3-0 lead before the halftime break, the largest lead after one half for the U.S. in FIFA World Cup history.
With his two goals, which arrived in the 31st and 45th minutes of the emphatic 4-1 win, Balogun became the second player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match for the USA after Bert Patenaude’s three goals in 1930, which also came against Paraguay.
The striker nearly added to his tournament total on June 19 in the team’s second match of the group stage. Making his second straight start at FIFA World Cup 2026, Balogun forced the own goal that opened the scoring in the highly anticipated meeting against Australia. Including that own goal, created purely from Balogun’s scorching effort down the left flank and low, driven cross into a crowded six-yard box, the striker has been responsible for three of the USA’s six goals scored so far in the tournament.
“I’m enjoying the stakes, enjoying the pressure – it’s what brings out the best of me,” he told reporters on Monday. “I’m very excited… I want to continue to score goals.”
Balogun’s story has gained traction coming off his star-making performances. The son of Nigerian parents, the now 24-year-old was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in London, England. His background made him eligible to play international soccer for three nations – Nigeria, the U.S. or England.
He spent his youth in Britain, rising through the ranks in the academy at one of the elite programs in the English Premier League, Arsenal. He made his senior team debut on Oct. 29, 2020, vs. Dundalk in the Europa League, recording a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win. All the while, he floated between the England and U.S. youth national team programs, making appearances for both.
Then, it came time for Balogun to decide. He answered the pleas of goal-hungry Americans who sought a striker of his caliber to represent their Stars and Stripes. After attending a training camp in Florida in spring 2023, he committed to wearing the crest and colors of the country he was born in, the USA, citing fan support as influential in his decision.
Since then, he’s never looked back.
“I’m very proud to be American and to represent America,” Balogun said. “My story has gotten a little bit of attention. It’s expected for our World Cup as well. It’s an opportunity for the fans to get to know about us as players. But nothing changes. I’m very proud to be here.”
His productive two-match start to the USA’s summer campaign has twice earned him FIFA’s Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match following both U.S. victories. The brace against Paraguay also added Balogun’s name to the tournament’s Golden Boot race, a field that includes some of the top goal scorers in the world. Balogun’s two goals ties him with Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior, England’s Harry Kane, Netherlands’ Cody Gakpo, and others for the fourth-most goals in the tournament, as of June 22.
A few world-class stars have since climbed up the leaderboard – Argentina’s Lionel Messi, whose two goals against Austria brought his total to a tournament-high five and also broke the all-time record for goals in FIFA World Cup competition (18). Other notable names in the race are France’s Kylian Mbappe (four), Norway’s Erling Haaland (four), Canada’s Jonathan David (three) and Deniz Undav of Germany, who has three goals and two assists to tie Messi in total goal contributions.
A true striker through and through, Balogun said it’s “annoying” watching these opposing players score goals – the tenacious competitor in him strives to match that level, be a tone-setter for his team and see his own name at the top of that list:
“They’re scoring a goal a game, sometimes more, so for me it’s about trying to get to that level – to be inevitable as well and to be consistent. I’m sure I have the potential in me to do that.”
The AS Monaco striker has now scored 11 career goals for the USMNT in 29 appearances. And he’s proven he can score in a variety of ways. Balogun’s first goal in the FIFA World Cup was an expert, one-touch finish off a precise cross from forward Christian Pulisic. The second was undeniable strength and determination – fighting off an aggressive Paraguay defense to deliver a searing strike into the goal’s upper window. The own goal he forced was a showcase in straightforward speed as Balogun out-ran his Australian defender 1v1 with the dribble and put the ball into a dangerous area.
Balogun has also shown that he can operate solely up top, as he did in the opener against Paraguay, or alongside a second striker, as in the match against Australia. In Seattle, Mauricio Pochettino inserted Ricardo Pepi to the starting XI alongside Balogun, and the head coach praised the way the pair pressed from the jump, saying it set the tone for a relentless U.S. attack.
“It breeds a lot of confidence when you’re going into games and you have lads who can score goals and make things happen,” fullback Antonee Robinson said.
Whether or not he can catch Messi, Balogun could very well make USMNT history during this year’s tournament. One more goal would draw him even with USMNT legend Landon Donovan, who scored three goals in 2010, for the second-most goals scored in a single FIFA World Cup. The only player to score more goals for USA in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup was Bert Patenaude, who scored four in 1930, including that hat trick against Paraguay.
The U.S. faces unique circumstances heading into the group stage finale on June 25 at Los Angeles Stadium against Türkiye. After just two matches, the U.S. has already won Group D and secured a place in the Round of 32. The USMNT will stay on the West Coast and play on July 1 in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Already securing advancement with one group stage match to spare means Pochettino has the chance to rotate some of his players. Those working through soreness or on a yellow card, such as Balogun, could get some rest while the eight players who have yet to see action in this tournament could make their FIFA World Cup 2026 debuts.
Even if different players take the pitch for Thursday’s match, Balogun and the rest of the team are set on not overlooking Türkiye and putting their best foot forward.
“The most important thing is to go out there and win,” Balogun said. “Regardless of whatever team the coach decides to play, the objection and the aim is to go out there and win Three wins in three games is an opportunity to create history and to put a positive message out there, not just for ourselves, but towards other teams.
“The team has always been diverse since I’ve come here, no different from America, [it’s an] extremely diverse place. The most important thing for us is to stay focused on what we’re doing here. We’re here to play football. We’re here to compete at the highest level. We’re here to make the country proud. If we do that to the level I know we can, I think we’re going to inspire the nation.”
