Balogun Bursts Back onto the Soccer Scene—Can He Force His Way Into USMNT's November Squad?

Nearly four months removed from the U.S. men's national team's World Cup campaign, standout forward Folarin Balogun has finally reclaimed his place in the soccer spotlight.

Balogun captured the imagination of fans across America this summer when he netted three goals in just four appearances on the sport's biggest stage. The 25-year-old guided the USMNT on a remarkable run that saw the side claim back-to-back group stage victories for the first time since 1930, top Group D with a game to spare, and secure their first knockout round triumph in 24 years. Thanks to his intelligent style of play and sharp instinct in front of goal, Balogun rapidly became a recognizable name and the defining face of the USMNT.

However, the newfound attention on Balogun soon became overwhelming. He was controversially shown a red card during the round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina — a decision that outraged the nation, yet one Balogun himself accepted with remarkable poise. "It's important to stay calm," he said in the wake of the incident. "I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There's still lots of people we're inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching. We have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it's unjust."

But just over 24 hours before the USMNT's round of 16 showdown with European giant Belgium, FIFA issued a landmark red card reversal for Balogun, thrusting the forward unwillingly into the heart of a worldwide controversy that soon drew connections to the White House and U.S. President Donald Trump, and faced scrutiny from nearly every competing nation's football association. While the ruling made the USMNT's star available for the match against Belgium, he later admitted that all the "outside noise" had taken a toll on him and his teammates during the eventual 4–1 defeat.

Through no fault of his own, Balogun's tournament achievements had been overshadowed by scandal, making him the central storyline at a competition already under fire for FIFA's alleged corruption and politicization.

As if that episode hadn't stirred enough controversy, Balogun found himself back at the center of drama just two months later. Transfer Deadline Day began with the striker seemingly bound for Everton; however, he unexpectedly failed his medical examination at the Premier League club, triggering a chain reaction for several pending transfer deals across Europe with just hours remaining before the window closed. Although Everton briefly revived Balogun's move at the eleventh hour, the AS Monaco man was ultimately put off by the Toffees' sudden lack of confidence and chose not to finalize the deal. Balogun's change of mind cost two other players their dream moves and left a significant mark on the eve of the new European season.

Two global controversies within two months, compounded by a minor leg injury — it's little surprise that Balogun kept a low profile this fall. He was absent from the USMNT's September-October international camp and has made just five appearances in French Ligue 1 for Monaco, all as a substitute.

But it was only a matter of time before the soccer sensation returned to the forefront.

Balogun Opens 2026–27 Account

Balogun scored his first goal of the new season on Sunday against Ligue 1 opponents Paris FC, finding the net just 20 minutes after entering the pitch at the start of the second half.

Latching onto a driven cross into the opposition box, he split Paris' center backs with a well-timed run and charged into the goal mouth to redirect the ball into the net. His finish, which pulled Monaco to within one of their hosts at Stade Jean Bouin, injected fresh energy into the visitors after the hour mark.

Although it proved to be Monaco's only goal in an eventual 3–1 defeat, it was a significant and long-awaited moment for Balogun, arriving more than two months into the 2026–27 campaign. And if Balogun has demonstrated anything over the past year, it's that once he starts finding the net, there's no stopping him. He registered 19 goals last season across all competitions, including a stunning run of 11 goals in 11 matches between mid-February and early May.

Balogun may also reclaim a starting berth at Monaco soon, currently competing with last year's backup, Paris Brunner, for the role.

Will Pochettino Call Up Balogun?

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to announce his November squad in the coming days, ahead of the international camp's Nov. 9 start. A significant question mark undoubtedly hangs over Balogun's inclusion.

Pochettino chose to leave Balogun out last month due to the transfer saga and a "small issue in one of his legs," and could easily make the same call this month given Balogun's limited playing time at club level.

The striker has accumulated just 116 minutes in the new season, with Sunday's 45-minute outing being his longest single appearance. He hasn't featured in a domestic starting lineup since May 17.

There is little question that Balogun remains Pochettino's top long-term choice at striker; however, the Argentine coach may prefer his star forward to continue rebuilding his rhythm at club level before reintroducing him to the international setup.

If anything, Balogun's absence last month highlighted the depth Pochettino possesses at the No. 9 position. Teenage talents Julian Hall and Justin Ellis made their senior debuts during the last camp and combined for five goals across four friendlies, suggesting the Stars and Stripes are in more than capable hands should Balogun require additional time to find his form.