The United States striker in the middle of the 2026 World Cup’s biggest controversy was barely born in America. Folarin Balogun, who grew up in London and could’ve played for England or Nigeria, also relied on American fans to help him make a life-changing decision.Folarin Balogun suddenly is the biggest name in the World CupgettyBalogun becomes center of the World Cup “My decision to represent the United States, it came together with my family,” Balogun told US Soccer in May 2023, when his one-time change of association request was approved by FIFA.“We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in. In the end it became a no-brainer. But, for sure, it’s just something I wanted to do and it feels like I’m at home here.”On Sunday, Balogun became the biggest name in the World Cup after US President Donald Trump controversially intervened in a red-card suspension that FIFA eventually overturned for a Round of 16 match vs Belgium. “When they take your best player … and they say, ‘You can’t play,’ that’s very unfair,” Trump said on Monday.Balogun definitely belonged in red-and-white stripes in USMNT’s World Cup opener, powering the team to a 4-1 win over Paraguay and becoming the first USA athlete since 1930 to score two goals in a World Cup game.He entered Monday’s game vs Belgium — a rematch of a 2014 World Cup Round of 16 match that resulted in USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard earning his Secretary of Defense nickname — with three goals in three starts. But Balogun playing for Maurcio Pochettino‘s 2026 team isn’t just the fulfillment of a personal dream — it barely happened and took a ‘massive’ belly to become reality.“I don’t believe things happened by luck,” Balogun’s mother, Florence, told ESPN.“I think for me to have gone to America and for me to have had him there, it is just something that has really stuck with me. Even when he wasn’t even thinking of making an international decision, I’d already made up my mind that he is going to play for America.”London kid dreamt of starring for ArsenalBalogun grew up in London, was scouted from a Sunday League team, and joined Arsenal’s youth academy at 8 after trialing with Tottenham.The London-raised Balogun is only playing for USMNT because of an accidental birth in the USAgettyBalogun used to play in empty stadiums while trying to start for ArsenalgettyNow Donald Trump wants fans to look a little deeper into a World Cup referee’s pastAFPBut Florence’s decision to take a vacation to New York in 2001, when she was seven months pregnant, became the real breakthrough. After an airline refused to allow her to travel back to London without a doctor’s letter — “My belly was so massive,” Florence said — Balogun was born in Brooklyn and lived in the New York borough for about two months inside a family member’s two-bedroom apartment.Twenty-five years later, Balogun is lifting pressure off Christian Pulisic, USMNT’s Captain America, and showing the football world he made the right choice in picking the USA over England and Nigeria.“Poch has said many times, ‘Why not us?’ ” said Balogun, after USMNT’s opening win. “You have to believe. You can’t do anything if you don’t believe in yourself.”USA switch was a long time coming The 5ft 10in Monaco forward added: “I visualized my debut in the World Cup, scoring. But reality did surpass that by scoring two goals.”A 25-year-old in the middle of a massive FIFA controversy has his hometown listed as ‘London, England’ on US Soccer’s official site.FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been widely criticised for the Balogun decisionAFPBalogun helps take pressure off Christian PulisicGettyBalogun, who was born to Nigerian parents of Yoruba heritage and often goes by the nicknames ‘Flo’ or ‘Balo’, highlighted fan support on social media when he made his pivotal international decision.“That’s when I really saw the full force of the US fans,” he said. “I was there and I just posted a photo with my friends thinking that it was just a holiday picture. Before I knew it, I just saw loads of comments and people knew I was in America, and I just really felt the love from there.“There’s been a lot of build up, so I’ve obviously seen people saying that I should choose to represent the U.S. and it’s just something I’m really happy that I’ve decided to do.“To be honest I was a bit overwhelmed. I knew the U.S. was obviously a big country, but I didn’t realize how many people were involved in soccer, especially every time I went on social media I was seeing loads of comments with people saying I should choose to represent the U.S. It’s nice to feel that appreciation for sure.” Back in action vs Belgium in Round of 16As of Monday afternoon, Balogun was expected to play vs Belgium and be featured in a USMNT lineup that could include Premier League stars Chris Richards, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson. “In Folarin Balogun, you have somebody that is built to be that focal point, that number nine, that source of goals,” USMNT correspondent Ben Jacobs exclusively told talkSPORT.“If he can get going, then suddenly the US Men’s National Team have got weapons, have got form, have got chemistry.”Coming to AmericaHow the 1994 World Cup changed soccer in USA – from tourists in Italy to better than England and MLSRanking the World Cup venues – from New York to Los Angeles, a string of spectacular venues will play host to the 2026 World CupThe $9bn pitch built for Ronaldo’s last World Cup – ‘Forever’ grass, artificial sunlight and closed roofThey have Balogun wearing a No. 20 red-and-white Stripes jersey again because he was accidentally born in New York, then proudly chose the USA as his international football country. USMNT badly needed a smooth striker and gave Balogun the starting opportunity that a loaded England roster couldn’t. “When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom,” Balogun said.“She said, ‘What took you so long?’ So, for sure, we were all on the same page. Then after that conversation, I just sent the message across to my agent and said, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ “World Cup WhatsAppDon't miss an update from talkSPORT in our dedicated World Cup WhatsApp channel.Search for ‘talkSPORT World Cup’ in your ‘Updates’ tab on WhatsApp and we’ll drop the proper, unfiltered football chat straight to your lock screen—no fluff, just pure talkSPORT energy.It’s where you’ll find out all the new rules to watch out for, England and Scotland reaction and big match player ratings. Plus there will be loads of debates on the biggest talking points as Haaland, Mbappe, Kane and the biggest names in football descend on America, Canada and Mexico.