Born in Brooklyn, Raised in London, Folarin Balogun Lights up the World Cup for the US
Balogun’s World Cup breakout highlights how a Supreme Court ruling could affect citizenship-based eligibility for future U.S. national team players.
- On Friday, US striker Folarin Balogun scored twice in a 4-1 World Cup victory over Paraguay, becoming the first American with multiple goals in a World Cup game in 96 years.
- Born in Brooklyn on July 3, 2001, after airline staff refused to let his pregnant mother fly to England, Balogun gained American citizenship through what sources describe as a 'quirk of fate.'
- Despite rising through Arsenal's academy and playing for England's youth teams, Balogun chose the US senior team; his decision reflects a broader trend of dual nationals now selecting America.
- The American Civil Liberties Union and advocacy groups sued to block President Trump's executive order last year; the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April and expects a decision by late June or early July.
- Recruitment of dual nationals began in the 1980s under manager Bob Gansler and scaled up about 15 years ago under Bob Bradley and Jurgen Klinsmann; Gregg Berhalter expanded it further during his five years as coach.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Post Bulletin
Folarin Balogun lights up World Cup for US
LOS ANGELES — If a pregnant Nigerian woman had been allowed to board a plane 25 years ago, the U.S. team's path through this summer's World Cup may have unfolded much differently. Instead, a gate agent turned her away, insisting it wasn't safe for her to fly from New York to London. So Florence Balogun returned to Brooklyn, where she had been visiting relatives, and waited for her second son to be born. And when Folarin arrived a few weeks later…
keenesentinel.com
Hanford SentinelBorn in Brooklyn, raised in London, Folarin Balogun lights up the World Cup for the US
LOS ANGELES — If a pregnant Nigerian woman had been allowed to board a plane 25 years ago, the U.S. team’s path through this summer’s World Cup may have unfolded much differently. Instead, a gate agent turned her away, insisting…
US soccer star’s 2 World Cup goals thrust Trump birthright citizenship push into spotlight
U.S. men’s soccer striker Folarin Balogun scored two goals in the Americans’ victorious opener of the FIFA World Cup on Friday, a performance that would not have occurred had his mother not traveled to the U.S. just before he was born. The performance has also put President Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship back in…
coastaltvnews.com
Iraq news, the latest Iraq news by Iraqi News…Birthright citizenship helps spark US World Cup run
President Donald Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship has gone all the way to the US Supreme Court but the issue's impact is already being felt on a giant stage: the World Cup.
It is quite ironic that Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals for the US team in the opening match of the World Cup, has obtained citizenship in a way that President Donald Trump is fighting against.
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