•••Nigerian-born striker scores twice as hosts begin World Cup campaign in style
Nigerian-born United States striker Folarin Balogun was named FIFA’s Man of the Match after delivering a stellar performance in the United States’ emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening Group D fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 24-year-old forward scored twice to inspire the host nation to a convincing win and an ideal start to their campaign in the expanded tournament.
Balogun opened the scoring early in the encounter before adding his second goal just before half-time, helping the Americans establish a commanding lead. Additional strikes from his teammates completed the rout as the United States moved to the top of Group D.
His impressive display earned him FIFA’s Man of the Match award, underlining his growing importance to the American side under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The AS Monaco striker, who was born in New York to Nigerian parents and raised in England, opted to represent the United States at senior international level in 2023 after featuring for England’s youth teams.
Balogun’s brace also placed him in the history books as the first American player since 1930 to score two goals in a single FIFA World Cup match.
Speaking after the game, the striker expressed delight with the team’s performance and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum as the tournament progresses.
The victory handed the United States maximum points from their opening fixture and boosted their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.
Balogun’s outstanding performance has further strengthened his reputation as one of the brightest attacking talents in international football and provided another reminder of the quality of players with Nigerian heritage making their mark on the global stage.
