When the United States lines up against Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 in the early hours of Monday morning, Folarin Balogun will step into the biggest match of his life — and into a storyline where football, identity and U.S. politics collide.
His unexpected return to the tournament’s spotlight has been turbocharged by an intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, a move that thrust Balogun into the centre of one of the World Cup’s most talked-about controversies.
Balogun was not meant to be available for the knockout tie after receiving a red card in the United States’ previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a dismissal that should have ruled him out of the next game.
However, FIFA said it would suspend the World Cup ban.
Mr Trump — who has repeatedly called for ending birthright citizenship — had publicly urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s case.
Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House (file image)
Balogun’s citizenship traces back to a twist of circumstance: he acquired U.S. citizenship by birth after his Nigerian mother could not return home from a trip to New York because she was too far advanced in her pregnancy to fly.
She took her newborn son back to Britain when he was one month old, and he grew up there before ultimately choosing to represent the United States.
After initially competing for England at youth level, he opted to join the US Soccer programme in 2023.
That personal history has added fresh intrigue to an already charmed World Cup run — one that has seen his career bloom on the sport’s biggest stage as U.S. Soccer continues to shake a decades-old image as an incubator for overwhelmingly white talent.
For supporters of birthright citizenship, Balogun’s surge has landed at a politically charged moment, with debates over citizenship, immigration and what it means to be American pushed to the forefront of U.S. politics.
Balogun “prove(s) birthright citizenship isn’t a loophole – it’s America,” declared a headline from a Miami Herald editorial on Thursday.
“Mr. Balogun’s case is an extraordinary example of the good that is made available to us by things like birthright citizenship, giving people an opportunity that they would not have otherwise, to be their best and to contribute to the United States in ways that benefit all of us,” said Jorge Loweree, who is the managing director of programs at the American Immigration Council.
The United States is one of 33 countries, most of them in the Western Hemisphere, that allow unconditional birthright, after an 1898 Supreme Court ruling affirmed that the 14th Amendment allows for birthright citizenship.
‘Extraordinary to witness’
For years, Christian Pulisic has served as the United States’ charismatic standard-bearer — a rare, true celebrity in the men’s game in a country that has often seemed ambivalent toward soccer.
Yet even with “Captain America” Pulisic still enjoying the deepest reservoir of sponsor affection, it was Balogun who emerged as the team’s breakout star, scoring three goals and giving fans reason to dream of a deep tournament run.
A year and a half after Pulisic raised eyebrows with his “Trump dance” goal celebration, Balogun drew attention from another corner of American culture: he earned shoutouts from LeBron James after mimicking the NBA icon’s “silencer” celebration on the pitch.
Then, in a flash, the fairytale jolted into crisis. Balogun was shown a red card on Wednesday following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for planting his boot on the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic — a moment that appeared inadvertent, but still brought severe consequences.
Florian Balogun receiving a red card for his challenge in the game versus Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pulisic put an arm around Balogun as the 25-year-old striker absorbed the decision with composure. In the days that followed, Balogun said he would channel his energy into backing his teammates from the sidelines for the Belgium clash.
But less than a week after the Supreme Court dealt Mr Trump a stinging defeat in his central policy goal of ending birthright citizenship, the U.S. president contacted FIFA boss Mr Infantino in search of a reprieve.
“The timing and the development of the story has been extraordinary to witness,” said Mr Loweree.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this year found that most Americans opposed ending birthright citizenship.
Mr Infantino confirmed he had heard from Mr Trump, but denied that the US president had any impact on the decision to suspend the red card.
‘I’m at home’
Raised in London and developed at Arsenal’s academy, Balogun had multiple international pathways open to him, with England, Nigeria and the United States all realistic options for the prolific scorer.
“It feels like I’m at home here,” Balogun explained in US Soccer’s announcement that he would play for the ‘Stars and Stripes’.
He said he made the decision with his family, but also pointed to a vacation to Orlando that helped tip the balance.
“I think that’s when I really saw the full force of the US fans,” he said at the time.
“It’s just something I’m really happy that I’ve decided to do.”
Read more: ‘I understand sports really well’ – President Donald Trump admits he lobbied FIFA over Folarin Balogun suspension
