Folarin Balogun is USA Soccer's biggest star at 2026 World Cup
Alicia Del GalloEditor's note:Follow USA vs. Australia LIVE
Folarin Balogun is the name to know for the U.S. men's national team during this 2026 World Cup. The 24-year-old was responsible for the USMNT's first goal vs. Australia on Friday, June 19.
Balogun broke free on the left side of the field and fired the ball into the center of the box just in front of goal. The ball ricocheted off the feet of an Australian defender and into the net for an own goal, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Balogun scored two goals in the first half of the opening match against Paraguay on June 12, giving his team a 3-0 lead at halftime to cap off an incredible first 45 minutes of action. The United States ended up winning 4-1.
Balogun was the first USMNT player to score two goals in a game since Bert Patenaude accomplished the feat in the 1930 World Cup in a 3-0 win over Paraguay.
"It’s a dreamy night," Balogun told reporters after the Paraguay match, adding that "the reality did surpass" what he envisioned for his World Cup debut. He said he would probably watch Netflix that night to wind down from the excitement.
Shop Folarin Balogun's World Cup jersey
What Christian Pulisic said about Balogun
"The kid's insane," said Pulisic, who is not playing against Australia due to a calf injury. "I mean, yeah, he's lethal right now in front of goal. We're really lucky to have him and keeps going like this."
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