With five friendlies left before Mauricio Pochettino cuts his U.S. player pool for next summer’s soccer carnival and candidates jockeying for position on the depth chart, there is an outright front-runner to start at striker: Folarin Balogun.
COMMERCE CITY, Colorado — The World Cup is still eight months off, a lifetime for a player juggling the demands of club and country. Injuries and fitness issues are hard to avoid and, should form and productivity tail off in the daily job, invitations to the national team could drop as well.
But at this very moment, with five friendlies left before Mauricio Pochettino cuts his U.S. player pool for next summer’s soccer carnival and candidates jockeying for position on the depth chart, there is an outright front-runner to start at striker: Folarin Balogun.
In U.S. circles, it’s been years since such a declaration could even be whispered. Think back to the 2022 World Cup, where Josh Sargent started twice, Haji Wright was the choice against England and Jesus Ferreira lined up against the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Consider the subsequent two years when Ricardo Pepi returned to the mix, Ferreira stuck around, Balogun joined the program, and Brandon Vazquez and Daryl Dike got their shots. This year, Pochettino introduced Patrick Agyemang and Brian White.
As the dust has settled, Balogun has rebounded from injuries and a long national team absence to stake his claim to a position that has not had a certain starter since Jozy Altidore last decade.
Pochettino listed several traits that he admires about Balogun, but “what I like the most is that he is scoring. It’s what I like the most in a striker.”
In a program that has not produced many pure scorers, “Balo” is making the case for the full-time role. He has scored in each of his past two appearances, including the equalizer in the 1-1 draw against Ecuador on Friday in Austin, Texas. It capped his night of persistent menace, which also featured two first-half efforts and quality interaction with midfielder Malik Tillman.
Last month, in his first camp in a year, Balogun contributed the second goal in the 2-0 victory over Japan. Overall, he has notched seven goals in 20 appearances since choosing the U.S. program over England in 2023.
The U.S. team will face Australia on Tuesday in this Denver suburb.
“For me, it's about building momentum, consistently being a part of the team and being available,” Balogun said. “I think the most important thing for any athlete is to be available. So I want to prove that to myself, prove that to the coaching staff. And once I'm on the pitch – and the longer I'm on the pitch building confidence – good things are going to happen. So it's a process, but I'm definitely happy with how it's going.”
Balogun, 24, was not available last October and November or this spring because of a shoulder injury, suffered with his French Ligue 1 club, Monaco. He was ruled out of the summer’s Gold Cup as well because of an ankle ailment.
Now that Balogun is healthy, Pochettino has turned to him for a dangerous frontline presence. Wright and Agyemang, based in England’s second-flight Championship, are also on the roster for this camp. If healthy, the Dutch-based Pepi could reenter the fray next month.
“Flo has everything,” U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan said. “He can run in behind [the backline]. He can play [with his] back to goal. He has the ability to take guys on one [against] with link-up play, with his movement, with his individuality. He's got it all, really.”
The key with any striker, however, “it's about getting him involved,” Roldan added. “That is the most important thing for us when we have Flo on the field: How can we get him involved as much as possible? Because he can be the difference.”
Through the early stage of Monaco’s league season, Balogun has made a modest difference, scoring once in five appearances. (He started three times and entered at halftime of two others.) He also started (but didn’t score) in Champions League matches against Club Brugge and Manchester City.
To remain atop the U.S. depth chart leading to the World Cup, Balogun will need to continue to start regularly for Monaco, which sits fifth in the league, three points behind Paris Saint-Germain. And to start regularly for Monaco, he is going to need to influence the attack through scoring or creating opportunities for others.
Here at U.S. camp, Balogun and Pochettino seem to be on the same page.
“Having such an established coach gives us so much confidence,” Balogun said. “Everbody is happy with the job he's doing, and everyone can see the progress we're making.”
Progress revealed itself for much of the Japan match and throughout most of the Ecuador test. In particular, partnerships, such as Balogun and Tillman, shined Friday.
“It really stood out to me how well we played and how good his vision and passing is,” Balogun said. “Gives me confidence to just make a run and he'll find me.”
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In order to expand his player evaluations, Pochettino hinted he will make multiple changes to the lineup Tuesday. That could result in Wright or Agyemang taking Balogun’s place, and Balogun entering as a sub. Pochettino might also want to see Balogun on the field with Christian Pulisic, a sure starter who was relegated to a reserve role Friday because of an ankle ailment. Pulisic had set up Balogun’s goal against Japan.
Regardless of how he deploys Balogun against Australia, Pochettino seems to favor him as the World Cup starter.
Balogun was born in New York but raised in London, one of soccer’s epicenters. The sport’s ultimate competition is not far from his mind — even if much could happen between now and then.
“It's just a spectacle, you know?” he said. “For everyone around the world, it's kind of like a moment in time where things are still. You get home from work or whatever you're doing, and you turn on the TV, and there's so many games to watch, supporting your nation. It's a chance that makes you feel grounded, you know?”
With the tournament coming to North America, “it's going to be really a huge event,” he added. “My memories of the World Cup are really, really fun, and I'm really excited to be participating in one.”
USMNT still monitoring Pulisic; Robinson out Tuesday
Pulisic practiced Monday and seems on track to play more than the 17 minutes he logged against Ecuador.
"I hope [Pulisic] can be available,” Pochettino said. “We need to wait [for] the reaction [from Monday’s training], but I think it's much better than when we arrived" Saturday in Colorado.
Left back Antonee Robinson (knee) did not practice and will not play Tuesday, Pochettino said. It’s a disappointing development for the Fulham left back, a 2022 World Cup starter who has not played for the U.S. team since late last year because of knee problems.
Winger Alex Zendejas, who wasn’t available Friday because of a knee injury, has left camp.
Category: General Sports
