Folarin Balogun has driven Team USA’s 2026 World Cup campaign, scoring three goals through the group stage and the Round of 32. The USMNT are through to the Round of 16, but they now have to get there without their top scorer after Balogun was sent off in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Here is an updated profile of the striker, his tournament stats so far, and what comes next for him and the USA in July 2026.
Folarin Balogun: a short profile
Balogun is a 24-year-old striker who leads the line for the United States, and he turns 25 tomorrow, on 3 July. He plays his club football for AS Monaco in France’s Ligue 1.
Born in New York City to Nigerian parents, he moved to London at one month old and was raised in England. That upbringing gave him dual US-English citizenship, and he was also eligible to represent Nigeria.
- Born: 3 July 2001, New York City.
- Club: AS Monaco, Ligue 1.
- Position: Striker, USMNT first-choice number 9.
- Eligibility: Could have played for the US, England or Nigeria; chose the US in 2023.
He was confirmed in the USMNT’s 26-man World Cup squad named by head coach Mauricio Pochettino on 26 May 2026. He committed to the USMNT in 2023 after a training camp in Florida, choosing the US over England and Nigeria.
Balogun’s World Cup stats through three matches
Balogun has scored three goals in three appearances, making him the USMNT’s outright top scorer at the tournament. His brace against Paraguay was the first World Cup double by a US player since 1930, and his goal against Bosnia and Herzegovina extended that tally in the Round of 32.
| Match | Result | Balogun contribution |
|---|---|---|
| vs Paraguay, 12 June — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | USA 4-1 Paraguay | 2 goals (31′, 45+5′) |
| vs Australia, 19 June — Lumen Field, Seattle | USA 2-0 Australia | Forced Burgess own goal (11′) |
| vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1 July — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara | USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1 goal (45′), red card (64′) |
Balogun’s two goals against Paraguay put him level with Landon Donovan’s 2010 haul on the all-time USMNT single-tournament scoring list. His third goal, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, moved him ahead of that mark, with only Bert Patenaude’s four goals in 1930 still standing higher for a US player at one World Cup.
USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balogun’s goal and red card
The USA beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 on 1 July at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Balogun opened the scoring in the 45th minute, but his night ended early when he was sent off in the 64th minute for a serious foul-play challenge on Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemović, upgraded to a red card on VAR review.
The USMNT held on with ten men, and substitute Malik Tillman settled the tie with an 82nd-minute free kick. The result sends the USA into the Round of 16, but Balogun’s red card carries an automatic one-match ban.
Group D: how the USA topped the table
The USA finished top of Group D on six points, but the final group game was no formality. Türkiye came from behind to beat a heavily-rotated USMNT side 3-2 on 25 June at SoFi Stadium, with Kaan Ayhan scoring the winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Because Pochettino had already secured top spot, he made ten changes for that match and rested Balogun for most of it. The result did not affect the USA’s position, since Australia and Paraguay drew their own final group game 0-0.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Q) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
| Australia (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Paraguay (Q) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 4 |
| Türkiye (E) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 3 |
(Q) = qualified for the Round of 32. (E) = eliminated. Paraguay went through as one of the eight best third-placed teams across all twelve groups.
What’s next: USA face Belgium without Balogun
The USA face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, 6 July, at Lumen Field in Seattle. Balogun’s one-match suspension rules him out, leaving Pochettino to find a replacement for his top scorer against a Belgium side that impressed in Group G.
If the USA advance, the quarter-finals follow in mid-July. The final is on 19 July at MetLife Stadium near New York, and the full bracket is on the official FIFA match schedule.
Off the pitch: transfer talk around Balogun
Balogun’s tournament form has also fuelled transfer talk around Monaco, who are reportedly open to selling this summer for around €50 million. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain are among the clubs linked, though none of it is confirmed.
Following the USA in person
Planning to follow the USA to Seattle for the Belgium game? Wego can help with flights, hotels and live flight status for every stop on the road to the final.
- Seattle: compare flights to Seattle and hotels in Seattle for the Belgium match.
- Los Angeles: if the run continues to the West Coast rounds, check flights to Los Angeles and hotels in Los Angeles.
- New York: for the final at MetLife Stadium, browse hotels in New York and book early, since World Cup demand pushes prices up fast.
- Airlines: check host-city routes on American Airlines or Delta.
You can also track live availability on the Wego flight tracker as your travel plans firm up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Folarin Balogun?
He is the USMNT’s first-choice striker. Born in New York and raised in England, the 24-year-old plays his club football for AS Monaco and switched his international allegiance to the US in 2023.
How many goals has Balogun scored at the 2026 World Cup?
He has scored three goals in three matches: two against Paraguay in the opener and one against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. He also forced an own goal against Australia.
Why will Balogun miss the USA’s next match?
He was sent off in the 64th minute of the Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina for a serious foul-play challenge. The red card carries an automatic one-match suspension, ruling him out of the Round of 16 game against Belgium.
Has the USA qualified for the knockout rounds?
Yes. The USA won Group D and then beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 to reach the Round of 16.
When does the USA play next at the 2026 World Cup?
The USA face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, 6 July, at Lumen Field in Seattle. It is the USMNT’s first knockout match without Balogun available.
Sources
- U.S. Soccer — Folarin Balogun Player Profile
- U.S. Soccer — Meet the Team: USMNT Roster For FIFA World Cup 2026
- FIFA — USA v Türkiye, Match Centre
- ESPN — USA 2-3 Türkiye, Final Score
- ESPN — USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Round of 32 Live Updates
- ESPN Africa — Balogun’s Red Card Against Bosnia and Herzegovina
- NPR — USMNT Beat Bosnia and Herzegovina to Reach the Round of 16
- Athlon Sports — Will Folarin Balogun Miss the USMNT’s Next World Cup Game?
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D (fixtures, venues, standings)
- FIFA — World Cup 2026 Match Schedule, Fixtures & Stadiums
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