Folarin Balogun, di USMNT and Monaco striker, don dey yarn about im journey and di upcoming World Cup wey go hold for America. Balogun, wey born for Brooklyn, raise for London, and develop through Arsenal‘s Hale End academy, don finally find im football identity. Im dey represent United States for di World Cup wey go happen for home soil.
Balogun talk say di opportunity to play for America for World Cup na big, big thing. Im say: ‘E get great sense of pride. I dey really look forward to representing America for home soil and make di country proud.’ Di striker know say plenty people dey look up to am, even more than Pulisic, as di leader of attack. Balogun accept di pressure: ‘With great pressure come great responsibility. But overall, I dey very excited.’
Di 24-year-old striker don already show im value for Monaco dis season, with 19 goals and five assists for 43 games. Im say di key to handling pressure na di work wey im put for training every day. ‘If you train hard and work hard, when opportunity come, nothing to fear. But if you no get good season, di pressure go dey too much.’
Balogun believe say di World Cup fit change im career. ‘If you score plenty goals and take your country far, e fit change di direction of your career. That something to excite you, not to nervous about.’ Im remember di last World Cup final between France and Argentina as one of di most amazing matches wey im don ever watch.
Di USMNT get target to go as far as possible for di tournament. Balogun no dey naive: ‘E no go easy, but di objective na to go as far as possible. We dey say inside USA: believe. And why not? We set small objectives, first make we comot from group, then prepare for knockout.’
Di striker also yarn about Mauricio Pochettino, di new USMNT coach. ‘Pochettino bring belief and fighting mentality. Im don make di squad more competitive. I dey look forward to summer and see how we do, to make di country proud.’
For Balogun, di World Cup no be just about football. E fit help grow soccer for America. ‘I hope di World Cup fit make football grow more for America. Di fans for Europe dey passionate; I hope we see same for America.’
Balogun don talk about Paraguay, dia first opponent. ‘Paraguay very aggressive. Last time we play dem, plenty fight happen, even di coach end up for floor. I hope for World Cup, better officiating go dey so e no go too crazy.’
Di striker no want talk about politics. Im say: ‘My job na to play football. Through football, I fit impact many lives and help people across di world. I no get involved for political stuff because that no be my job. I dey fully focused on having good World Cup for America and making di country proud.’
Balogun’s style of play na about movement, timing, and penalty-area instinct. Im dey rank high for goals and touches for di box, and im xG map show say im dey get into valuable scoring positions. Im dey dangerous for transition, wey im fit stretch di pitch and run into space. For USMNT, im give dem a forward wey dey live for di most valuable areas of di pitch.
Di striker still get areas to improve, like all-round link play and passing under pressure. But im strengths clear: pace, movement, and ability to turn small windows into chances. As World Cup approach, Balogun no just offer potential; im offer defined attacking identity. Im dey constantly ask defenders questions: can dem hold di line? Can dem track di blindside run? Can dem stop am from arriving for di box?
