USMNT may finally have an answer to the striker problem in Folarin Balogun

Doug McIntyre

Football journalist

Folarin Balogun and the United States Football Association were informed by FIFA early Tuesday morning that the Arsenal striker’s petition to represent the US in international competitions instead of England had been approved.

But within hours, the news was already reverberating on both sides of the Atlantic, and global football’s governing body quickly confirmed that Brooklyn-born London overruled Balogun’s one-time switch of allegiance. The great interest in Balogun’s decision is understandable in both countries.

Balogun becomes the latest in a parade of highly regarded young dual citizens the US has favored over more decorated programs in recent years. In 2020, midfielder Yunus Musah also chose the Stars and Stripes over England; last November, Musah played all 90 minutes in a scoreless draw with the Three Lions at the World Cup.

“Representing the United States means a lot,” Balogun said in a press release. “I am very proud and honored to be given this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.”

American fans are even more excited about Balogun, who happens to fill the most glaring positional need of Americans. The 21-year-old goalkeeper has scored 19 goals in 34 games this season on loan from the Gunners to French side Reims.

Balogun immediately becomes the leading candidate to start as striker for the Americans in next month’s CONCACAF Nations League semi-final against main rival Mexico.

“Having the chance to play against Mexico in a rivalry game would be great,” he said. “Hopefully I can make a difference.”

Another recruiting grab for the US, perhaps the most significant yet

Like many other countries, the US has employed dual nationals for decades. And like most others, they’ve also lost some along the way – most notably New Jersey product Giuseppe Rossi, who chose to play for Italy in the mid-2000s.

But the Americans have been in play since 2019, when then-USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter and then-sporting director of US Soccer Earnie Stewart flew to the Netherlands to secure the deployment of fullback Sergiño Dest, who was aggressively recruited by the Dutchman. Musah joined a year later. So did others during Berhalter’s four years in charge, including forwards Jesús Ferreira (Colombia), Ricadro Pepi (Mexico) and Daryl Dike (Nigeria).

Berhalter and his staff failed to land everyone they wanted. But overall, US Soccer has been hugely successful in this field over the past few years – success spawned in its own right. Musah spent time with Balogun in Arsenal’s academy and shared his positive experience of the American program with his former (and now future) teammate, a source confirmed to FOX Sports. The Americans’ performance at the World Cup in Qatar didn’t hurt either, nor did the fact that the US will host the Copa America next summer and the World Cup in 2026.

“It’s almost too good to be true,” Balogun said. “It’s just crazy to have the World Cup in America, and then be the host country and my first World Cup, it all comes together. Some things are just meant to be.”

However it happened, it is another clear coup for the US. And given Balogun’s age, pedigree and obvious goal-scoring prowess, he has a chance to eventually become the most influential of them all.

No trainer? No problem for Balogun

The timing of Balogun’s decision says a lot about how far the USMNT has come since failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The program’s first contact with the player came through Berhalter last year. Berhalter’s contract expired last year, and while recently appointed US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker insists he is a candidate to return, the uncertainty hasn’t deterred Balogun.

Not only was the USMNT without a coach when US Soccer rolled out the red carpet for Balogun in Orlando in late March, Crocker wasn’t on board yet. Neither did Oguchi Onyewu, who effectively became Crocker’s deputy last week. Former USMNT general manager Brian McBride had left months earlier.

None of that organizational uncertainty led Balogun to hold off on making his choice. The fact that he chose the USA without even knowing which coach will make the lineup decisions between now and 2026 says how comfortable he was, how confident he is that playing for his native country – which he left at the age of 2 – is the best is. choice.

“It ended up being a no-brainer,” Balogun said of his decision. “It feels like I’m at home here.”

That’s a testament to the culture built up in the American locker room.

Newcomer could lead the American line for many years

While Musah and other recent commits praised how they were immediately accepted by their American teammates, and while the Americans undoubtedly did everything they could to make Balogun feel welcome when he visited their camp, on-field fitness was certainly a factor as well .

Harry Kane is England’s captain and starting striker when healthy, and he’s only 29. Behind him are at least two other established Premier League scorers: Marcus Rashford and Callum Wilson.

The US, meanwhile, has not had a clear striker since Jozy Altidore’s days with the national team ended in 2019. Three different men – Ferreira, Haji Wright and Josh Sargent – started games for the Americans at the World Cup. Only Wright scored in Qatar. Balogun has scored more goals than anyone else this season, plus Dike and Pepi, despite playing in a stronger league.

The opportunity for Balogun is clear. He pulled out of England’s U-21 camp in March, flying to Florida only after England’s senior team boss Gareth Southgate failed to name a replacement for the injured Rashford. Now he will likely make his full international debut in less than a month in a packed NFL stadium in Las Vegas, with many more high profile games to come.

“It’s a very young, energetic squad and the potential of the squad is certainly great,” said Balogun. “I think I can add my qualities.”

In the end, the chance to settle quickly as the man to Americans for most of the next decade was simply too attractive for Balogun to pass up.

Doug McIntyre is a football writer for FOX Sports. Prior to joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer at ESPN and Yahoo Sports, and has covered the United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.