Folarin Balogun delivered a decisive performance as the United States opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with Victory over Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, scoring twice in the first half to ensure a dominant start for the co-hosts.
Forward movement and clinical finishing proved too much for Paraguay, with the USA taking complete control of the game early at SoFi Stadium and never relinquishing the momentum.
His performance earned him the man of the match award and cemented his growing role as a key figure in Mauricio Pochettino’s attacking system.
Akor Adams and Moffi show their approval
Attention from Nigerian football soon followed the performance, with Super Eagles strikers Akor Adams and Terem Moffi publicly reacting to Balogun’s highlight on social media.
Adams praised the performance by posting the star and love heart emoji reaction on his Instagram story. Moffi also reacted, announcing “Balo!!!!” with fire and praise emojis, showing his excitement for the player.
Balogun, who previously played for England youth teams before moving to the US, has long been a player of interest in Nigerian football discussions due to his heritage and past qualifications for the Super Eagles.
His latest appearance at the World Cup further strengthens his profile as one of the tournament’s emerging attacking figures.
The United States now turn their attention to their next group games against Australia and Turkey on June 19 and 26, respectively.
