What Is US Soccer Star Folarin Balogun’s Ethnicity?
Everyone has been talking about USMNT striker Folarin Balogun recently. That’s because he was given a controversial red card during a game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 1. That decision meant that not only did the US team have to finish the game without him, but he would not be available to play in the next match against Belgium. However, days later, FIFA suspended the one-match ban for a year, allowing Folarin to play with the U.S. team in the Round of 16.
“In line with Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA said in a statement.
USMNT team fans were delighted to have him back in the lineup and now want to know more about the athlete and his background.
Where Folarin Balogun was born and where he grew up
Folarin was born on July 3, 2001, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City to Ben Balogun and Florence Balogun, who are both Nigerian, specifically Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups. In Yoruba, Folarin’s name means “one who walks with wealth” or “walks in prosperity.”
Before his birth, Folarin’s mother was living in London and had been visiting her sibling in the States. She planned to fly home before her son was born, but when she attempted to board her flight, airline officials would not allow her to travel without medical clearance because she was too far along in her pregnancy to fly back to England.
“She came to the U.S. to visit her sister, and she had her return ticket, but then they said that she was too pregnant,” Folarin said in an episode of the documentary, U.S. Against the World: Four Years With the Men’s National Soccer Team. “So, I was born in New York, but grew up in London.”
Shortly after his birth, the family returned to London and that’s where Folarin was raised.
He began playing soccer as a child and joined the youth academy of Arsenal F.C., where he developed into one of the club’s top prospects. He later enjoyed a breakout season on loan with Stade de Reims before earning a permanent move to AS Monaco FC.
Why Balogun chose to play for USMNT
Folarin’s success at the club level made him one of the most sought-after international players because three countries hoped he would represent them. Because he was born in Brooklyn, he was automatically given U.S. citizenship. Therefore, he was eligible to represent the United States, England, or Nigeria internationally.
In 2023, Folarian officially committed to the United States men’s national team.
“When I broke the news to my family, they were all just over the moon, especially my mom,” he told ESPN. “She said, ‘What took you so long?’”
Following the USMNT’s opening World Cup match, Folarin told reporters, “I’ve always said the fans gave me so much motivation and showed me so much support. The most important thing has always been to be able to repay that. I just want to continue to show the fans I made the right decision.”
