Folarin Balogun has pledged that the United States men's national soccer team will emerge stronger for future competitions, despite an early exit from the 2026 World Cup. The striker, who was a notable performer for the U.S. in the tournament, took to social media to share his thoughts after the team's 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16.
"My debut World Cup… it hurts to wait 4 years to compete at the highest level our sport has to offer," Balogun wrote on X. "I want to say sorry to our fans it was not good enough when it mattered most and we let you down. Soccer in America will only become bigger the belief, the talent, and the passion is continually growing and I know the best days are in front of us, the future belongs to those who never stop believing, this moment will fuel us. Why not us? For the nation. For the flag."
Balogun, born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, grew up in London and represented England internationally before switching his allegiance to the United States in 2023. The 25-year-old forward had a strong start to his World Cup debut, scoring two goals against Paraguay and the decisive goal in the Round of 32 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
However, his participation in the match against Bosnia was cut short when he received a red card after an accidental collision. Though initially sent off, FIFA reversed the decision the day before the U.S. faced Belgium. Reports indicated that President Donald Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, though Infantino stated the call did not influence the decision to reinstate Balogun.
In the Round of 16 match against Belgium, Balogun was unable to find the scoresheet. Belgium secured a decisive 4-1 victory, with their coach, Rudi Garcia, later speaking with Balogun after the game. Garcia reportedly told the U.S. striker that the red card incident was not his fault and that he appreciated the player's sportsmanship.
The team's departure from the tournament marks a setback, but Balogun's message reflects a commitment to future growth and success for the U.S. men's national team.
