USMNT player Folarin Balogun’s parents, Florence and Ben, welcomed him in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Credit: Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
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Folarin Balogun was born to parents Florence and Ben Balogun
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He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but raised in London
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The soccer player’s mom encouraged him to play for the U.S. Men’s National Team
Folarin Balogun‘s parents are a big reason he is a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT).
The soccer player was born to mom Florence Balogun and dad Ben Balogun. Eligible to play for the British, American and Nigerian national teams, Folarin had to choose the country he’d represent in the FIFA World Cup — and Folarin told ESPN in October 2023 that his mom encouraged him to select the USMNT.
“She’s a big believer that you should go to where your heart is desired,” he said. “For her, it was really heartwarming just how much [the American fans] wanted to support me, and how much they wanted me to be a part of it. That almost came onto me as well.”
During the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Folarin received a controversial red card suspension, which was later reversed by FIFA after President Donald Trump appealed on the squad’s behalf. Ahead of the United States’ match against Belgium on July 6, FIFA’s appeal committee reportedly dismissed a Belgian objection to Folarin’s eligibility, according to The Athletic.
Here’s everything to know about Folarin Balogun’s parents, Florence and Ben Balogun.
Folarin’s parents were born in Nigeria
Credit: Frederic J. BROWN / AFP via Getty
Folarin’s parents Florence and Ben were born in Nigeria, per ESPN.
According to the outlet, Florence works as an accountant.
They welcomed Folarin in New York but raised him in London
Folarin was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but moved back to his parents’ home base of London shortly after.
As Florence explained to ESPN, she was seven months pregnant when she went to New York on a trip to visit relatives in 2001. With a “massive” belly and no letter from her doctor back home, her airline reportedly wouldn’t let her travel back to London. She stayed at her sister-in-law’s two-bedroom apartment until she and her newborn were able to fly back home.
“Where the story came from that he was in America until he was 2, I’ll never know,” Florence told the outlet. “I had him in July and by the end of August we were back in London.”
Folarin’s mom wanted him to play for the USMNT
Credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty
When it came time for Folarin to pick a soccer team, Florence strongly believed he should play for the USMNT.
“I don’t believe things happened by luck,” Florence told ESPN. “I think for me to have gone to America and for me to have had him there, it is just something that has really stuck with me. Even when he wasn’t even thinking of making an international decision, I’d already made up my mind that he is going to play for America.”
Ultimately, the decision to play for the U.S. was Folarin’s.
“It was about me naturally just feeling that this is the best thing, and that this is what I wanted to do,” he told ESPN.
Folarin has a brother and a sister
Credit: Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty
Folarin was raised alongside a brother, Royce, and a sister. He told the official site for U.S. Soccer that his brother is older and sister is younger.
Speaking about his childhood, he told the site that is was “cool” to grow up as the middle child.
“My sister came along as I got older, so it was kind of just me and my brother, but it was definitely cool,” Folarin said. “We played a lot of football and did a lot of things together.”
The soccer player told ESPN that while he was playing in Reims, France, his parents and two siblings traveled from London to attend almost every home game — and sometimes made surprise visits when he thought they’d be absent.
“I definitely needed them in the beginning to just encourage me and motivate me to keep going,” he said.
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