Folarin Jolaoluwa Balogun was born on July 3, 2001, in Brooklyn, New York, to Nigerian parents Ben and Florence Balogun.
His parents came from the Yoruba-speaking ethnic group in western Nigeria. Ben was born in the 1970s and Florence was born in the 1980s.
The family’s journey from Nigeria to America and then to England shaped Folarin’s early life and his path to becoming the USMNT’s starting striker at the 2026 World Cup.
Who Are Folarin Balogun’s Parents?
Ben Balogun and Florence Balogun are the parents who raised Folarin and his two siblings in London. Ben was born in Nigeria and was raised by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Balogun.
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He is a supportive father who takes an interest in his children’s achievements and works to provide for his family. Florence Balogun was born in Nigeria in the 1980s.
She worked full-time as an accountant while raising three children in London. The couple values education and encourages their children to excel academically and pursue their interests.
Ben and Florence moved from Nigeria to England seeking better opportunities for their family. Their decision to settle in London proved important for Folarin’s soccer career, as England has one of the world’s strongest youth soccer systems.
The Accidental American Birth: How Folarin Balogun Got U.S. Citizenship
Folarin’s birth in New York was unplanned. In 2001, when Florence was seven months pregnant, the family made a trip to New York to visit family.
An airline refused to allow Florence to travel back home to London because she did not have a letter from her doctor.
“My belly was so massive,” Florence later said about the situation. Without the required medical clearance from a London physician, the family had no choice but to stay.
Florence gave birth to Folarin in Brooklyn at her sister-in-law’s two-bedroom apartment. Mother and baby remained in New York for roughly two months until they were healthy enough to fly back.
Florence has since corrected records that sometimes claim Folarin stayed in America until age two.
“Where the story came from that he was in America until he was 2, I’ll never know,” she said. “I had him in July and by the end of August we were back in London.”
This accidental birth in the United States granted Folarin U.S. citizenship. To Florence, his birth in Brooklyn felt like fate—a circumstance that would eventually lead to Folarin representing the country of his birth at the 2026 World Cup.
Moving to London: Early Family Years and Settling In
When Folarin was one month old, the family returned to London and settled there. Ben and Florence raised their three children in the English capital.
While much about Folarin’s siblings remains private, it is known he has one brother and one sister named Tolani Balogun.
Adjusting to life in London outside the Nigerian community was difficult for Ben and Florence.
Florence worked full-time as an accountant while managing household duties and raising three children.
Despite the challenges, the couple created a stable home for their children.
The Balogun family valued education and encouraged their children to pursue their passions.
Early Soccer Interest: Aldersbrook FC and Family Support
Folarin showed interest in soccer from a young age while growing up in London. He began playing for Aldersbrook FC, a Sunday League side in the city’s northeast.
By age 10, he was competing in tournaments with the club. At one such tournament, Folarin had an exceptional performance.
“We qualified for the final and I was having a very good tournament, playing well and scoring goals,” he recalled years later. “While we were warming up before the final, I realized that someone was talking to my father on the sidelines. A man I had never seen before.”
That man was a scout from Arsenal. Folarin scored in the final, and Arsenal took interest in his abilities. Before Arsenal officially signed him, he also trialled with Tottenham Hotspur, but the North London club did not move forward with a contract.
Arsenal Youth Academy: From Aldersbrook to Hale End
At age eight, Folarin joined Arsenal’s youth academy in the Hale End program. His parents supported this decision fully. Over the years, Ben and Florence watched their son develop from a youth player into a professional prospect.
In 2017, when Folarin was 16, he was part of Trevor Bumstead’s Arsenal U16 team that won the Liam Brady Cup. The team defeated Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Juventus.
Folarin signed a professional contract with Arsenal in February 2019. He made his senior debut in the Europa League on October 29, 2020, entering as a substitute in the 74th minute against Dundalk.
Parental Dedication: Family Travels During Reims Loan
In the 2022-23 season, Folarin was loaned to French club Reims in Ligue 1. This loan proved transformative for his career. He scored 21 goals in all competitions, including 13 league goals, finishing as the league’s fourth-highest scorer.
During this season, Florence, Ben, and their other children made frequent trips from London to Reims for almost every home game. This was not easy, especially given Florence’s full-time accounting job.
They attended away games as well when possible. When Ben and Florence could not travel, other family members in France provided support.
Balogun credited this family presence as central to his development. He reflected that spending a year abroad early in his childhood made him more observant.
“You spend a year abroad, you’re not really speaking and you’re more listening,” he said.
“When somebody translates something, you don’t get the same detail. You’re not talking the same language. So it really made me listen a lot more. I think that’s stuck with me.”
Florence’s Influence: Why Folarin Chose to Play for the United States
In May 2023, Folarin committed to represent the United States at senior international level rather than England, where he had played at youth levels. Florence played a role in this decision.
Folarin explained the family dimension of the choice in an interview with USMNT officials. “My decision to represent the United States, it came together with my family,” he said.
“We decided it would be the right thing for me, to represent the country I was born in. In the end, it became a no-brainer.”
In June 2023, he made his U.S. debut and scored in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada. As of June 2026, he has nine goals in 27 appearances for the United States.
Monaco Career and 2026 World Cup
In August 2023, Balogun signed with AS Monaco on a five-year contract for a reported fee of 30 million euros, with potential add-ons of up to 10 million euros.
At Monaco, he continued his goal-scoring form. In June 2026, he was named to the USMNT’s 26-player roster for the World Cup, where the tournament begins with the United States playing Paraguay on June 12, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Folarin described the World Cup experience as “full circle.” “I didn’t realize at that moment how big football — soccer — was out here in America,” he said in a press conference days before the tournament.
“I feel like my individual journey is a bit full circle now approaching the World Cup.” He is expected to lead the line for coach Mauricio Pochettino’s men, playing as a lone striker alongside Christian Pulisic on the left and in front of Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.
Family has played a steady role in his development, and he has credited his upbringing for helping him stay focused through the demands of professional football and international travel.
As he prepares for his World Cup debut on home soil with the USMNT, the support system built by Ben and Florence Balogun in those early years in London remains central to his approach.
