Ahead of Copa America, the striker talks life with USMNT, tournament outlook and a desire to prove himself.
Folarin Balogun is a self-described "football lover" but he has a confession to make: growing up in the UK, he was never really able to watch the Copa America. That damn time difference – even for the obsessed, it's almost impossible to overcome.
"Not just the Copa," he says with a smile, . "American sporting events, boxing, MMA – it's always been past my bedtime!"
Yet there is something that has always drawn Balogun to this tournament: the names. Like most other fans of this sport, he knows them well. Icons of the game such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Adriano, Luis Suarez, Carlos Valderrama and Alexis Sanchez have solidified legacies in the Copa. Their highlights will live on forever. Success in this tournament is undeniable proof of a player's quality. If you can emerge at this particular tournament, you've earned your place among the greats.
For years, those names must have felt like they were a world away from Balogun. Growing up in London, all they were merely highlight reels, YouTube compilations and social media chatter. He grew up idolizing those closer to home, stars such as Thierry Henry, but he always had one eye on the stories being written on the other side of the Atlantic.
This summer, as he heads into his first major tournament with the U.S. men's national team, those names are at the forefront of Balogun's mind. He's writing his own story now and, in some ways, this summer is a turning point for the 22-year-old striker.
Balogun is still new, both to the USMNT and the world stage. He only made his big switch to the U.S. last March, doing so, at least partly, because the USMNT offered him a legitimate pathway to be great. The team needed him and, in a way, he needed the U.S.
That's been front-and-center in Balogun's thinking for this summer. For years, he heard about the Copa America; now, he's about to live it. He sees it as a proving ground. He sees stars such as Vinicius Jr., Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez in his path. He sees Messi opposite him in a potential final. He sees a chance to solidify his place among them and show that he can be the difference-maker who takes the USMNT to a different level.
"I'm fully confident," Balogun says. "I've done it before. I've competed with probably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe.
"It's something I just need to do consistently now. I feel like these are the moments and these are the opportunities. It's something that I need to embrace."
GettyHis USMNT tenure
Balogun made his switch for these types of moments. The USMNT pursued him because of his potential in such tournaments. Everything until now has been preparation for this Copa America run, for this chance to go at the world's top teams.
Balogun's adjustment to the USMNT hasn't always been easy or clean. There was an outside expectation that he would step into that No.9 role and dominate, but it's rarely that easy. Balogun has needed time to adjust to the USMNT's approach and, as important, the USMNT has needed time to adjust to the way Balogun does things.
Compared to the other strikers in the player pool, Balogun is a different type of player. He's more direct than, say, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent, two of his competitors for the starting spot at the Copa. His ability to get behind is one of his biggest strengths but, thus far, it hasn't been one the U.S. has made the best of.
In 12 USMNT appearances, Balogun has scored just three goals. One, of course, came against Canada in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League final. That truly announced his arrival. He scored one in September against Oman and then another a month later against Ghana. In four U.S. games in 2024, he's yet to score.
It's all part of an adjustment period, though, as all parties continue to find ways to get the best out of each other.
"Gregg (Berhalter) has always given me that confidence to just do what I naturally do," Balogun says. "He's telling the boys to find me.. Jedi (Antonee Robinson) hit a good ball. Gio (Reyna), naturally, he looks for passes in behind. I have a good relationship with a lot of the boys and I feel like it's just a matter of time, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase that."
AdvertisementGettyAdjusting to the U.S.
It hasn't just been an on-field adjustment for Balogun. The off-field experience is perhaps even more daunting.
Put yourself in his shoes. He's brought in as a No.9 savior, a player that can take this team from good to great. In he walks to an extremely close-knit group that features a large contingent of players who have literally grown up together. Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic have been playing together since they were kids. Most of the others have gone through a World Cup cycle together. In some ways, it's easy to see how Balogun could feel like an outsider.
This group has made sure he never felt that way, though. There are moments where Balogun is reminded that he's still the new guy but, in general, feels that his teammates have gone above and beyond to welcome him to the program.
"I think it's more just my natural character to be more observant," he says. "Just at mealtime, the boys are talking about previous camps and funny memories they've had, and I just try to listen and imagine the way they're describing the story. It's just helped me feel more connected to the group and just understand what's brought them to the stage.
"I'm more of a newcomer, but honestly, I feel like now I'm at a stage where I feel comfortable. I don't feel new coming into camp and I know that there are expectations of me. So it's about me and those expectations, as well."
In particular, Balogun has leaned on some of those with similar experiences, particularly Yunus Musah.
"Especially Yunus because we grew up together (at Arsenal). He lived in my area as well so we just naturally always had a close connection.," Balogun said. "Also Cameron (Carter-Vickers) he's somebody that I've grown closer to this camp. We've just managed to speak and it's funny just how many things you can have in common just from growing up in the same area. They've helped me with settling in and of course, a lot of the other boys have as well."
GettyConnecting with the country
Growing up in London, Balogun's experience with the U.S. was largely as a vacation destination. he was born in New York City but left when he was only two years old. In the ensuing years, he's been back as a visitor, a traveler, a guest.
Now he returns as a USMNT star, one that's helping to put the country on the map with his efforts for club and country. Coming back to the U.S. now carries a different sort of weight. Balogun enjoys it, though. It's a big country, after all, and he knows there's still so much left to see.
"Before I committed, I was coming here on vacation," he says. "I was in New York and I've been around in different parts and I've always enjoyed it, but I do feel, since I've committed when I had that period in Orlando, I was able to see different things. Especially now, we were in Washington and I went to the White House, just little things like that.
"It's nice for me to just see it from this perspective. I do enjoy doing that. I do enjoy being a part of that. There are so many, probably too many, sights and things for me to catch up on, but I'm just trying to do it little bit by little in different parts."
Getty ImagesLessons from Monaco
Balogun's rise to prominence came in France during a loan spell with Reims for the 2022-23 season. It was an eye-opening breakout for the striker, who netted 22 goals for a team that is far from one of the strongest in Ligue 1.
He earned a big move to Monaco as a result – and life there was an adjustment in more ways than one.
"It's different," he says with a laugh. "It's a very, very wealthy place. A lot of scenery and for me is different from growing up in London. It takes time to adjust."
It was also difficult on the field. At Reims, Balogun was a counter-attacking monster, a key piece for a club that didn't really have much of the ball. At Monaco, Balogun has had to adjust to playing in a team that maintains possession. It's led to similar difficulties to the ones he's faced with the USMNT as he's had to adjust to a new style of play and new mentality.
As a result, he scored just eight goals for Monaco this season, a big step back from his tally at Reims. Balogun isn't worried.
"It's taught me resilience," he said. "I've felt I've always had resilience and that's what's brought me here, but, for sure, being in Monaco, especially playing in the league before then going into Monaco with expectations, it has taught me resilience. It's taught me that things take time and I have to believe in myself.
"I think these are lessons that will help me coming into this tournament and, for sure, as a team, we're going to need to be resilient if we want to achieve things. We're not always going to dominate."