Some strikers command attention with their vibrant personalities, while others, like Folarin Balogun, let their performances do the talking. The 24-year-old forward, born in New York and raised in London, has made his commitment to the US national team after previously representing England and Nigeria. Last season, he showcased his talent by finishing fourth in Ligue 1 scoring with 13 goals, positioning him as a crucial player for the upcoming World Cup.
Fans of the USMNT have been closely following Balogun’s recruitment, eager for a reliable goal-scorer.
“What we would say in England is how sharp he is,” said USMNT captain Tim Ream. “Just with his movement: left, right, being able to hold the ball up and bring other players in, and then his movement in behind and getting himself in the goalscoring positions is something that we’ve been crying out for for a long time with the team and this group. He’s probably the most annoying striker for me to have to deal with in training because he is so quick with his movements, physically strong and able to seemingly glide past people.”
Since last summer’s Gold Cup, Balogun has played at least 45 minutes in six out of the United States’ ten friendlies, all against teams that participated in the World Cup. In these matches, he has accumulated 423 minutes, with five appearances lasting between 71 and 81 minutes. He averaged 26.4 touches per 90 minutes, with 24.1% of those occurring in the opponent’s penalty area—highlights being nine touches against Japan, eight against Ecuador, and six in a 45-minute stint against Senegal.
The last pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany were particularly indicative of the team’s tactical readiness for the World Cup, revealing areas needing improvement. The match against Germany highlighted a tendency to build attacks down the left flank, primarily through Ream’s passing to his former Fulham teammate Antonee Robinson. This strategy frequently involves Christian Pulisic, but it can leave Balogun isolated as teammates work to reconnect in the congested central area.
Despite this potential drawback, Balogun’s agility remains a crucial advantage, keeping him at the forefront of defenders’ minds even during periods without service. His ability to draw center-backs out of position by shifting from side to side creates opportunities for teammates to exploit spaces behind the defense. Balogun embodies the characteristics of a modern striker, focusing less on buildup play and rarely dropping back into the midfield or defensive zones.
As the team prepares for high-stakes matches, ensuring that their most in-form forward receives scoring opportunities is essential.
“I think in the game against Senegal, I had a good amount of opportunities. I felt involved in a short amount of time. As a striker, that’s what you want to do. That’s how you want to feel. The game against Germany was a bit more difficult. Of course, they’re a better opposition, so that’s to be expected.” Balogun remarked regarding the left-oriented buildup against Germany. “I’m just trying to go into these games, you know: every game’s going to be a completely new game,”
The upcoming match against Paraguay, the US’s first opponent in the group stage, presents a unique but familiar challenge. The US faced La Albirroja in a friendly last November, where Balogun netted the second goal during a 2-1 victory.
In that match, many expected starters such as Pulisic, Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Sergiño Dest were absent, which limited Balogun’s chances. Having his preferred attacking midfielders and defenders may facilitate quicker distribution to Balogun than in a match with a more rotated lineup.
Even so, his performance against Paraguay’s defensive setup showed that he can make an impact without numerous opportunities. In that match, he recorded just 15 touches over 75 minutes, marking his least involved performance among his six outings since the Gold Cup, with only one touch occurring in the opposing box.
The Paraguay defense attempted to minimize his effectiveness, yet Balogun still made a decisive contribution.
Following a turnover at the edge of the attacking third in the 71st minute, Balogun surged forward. He linked up with Gio Reyna to reach the edge of the box, where Reyna tried to cross back to him. Although the ball deflected, it still rolled into Balogun’s path. Knowing he couldn’t squander this chance after a quiet game, he fired a shot to the near post with his sole touch in the penalty area.
Paraguay will likely analyze this game tape, along with Germany’s strategies to limit Balogun’s involvement. While the US continues to refine its central attacking approach, Balogun remains confident in his ability to capitalize on the opportunities presented to him.
“Every game’s going to be a fight. Players need to be hungry, stay focused. I have faith in my teammates and myself that we can definitely create opportunities and finish them off.” Balogun stated. “Every game’s going to be a fight. Players need to be hungry, stay focused. I have faith in my teammates and myself that we can definitely create opportunities and finish them off.”
