Folarin Balogun Drops Epic Quote After Historic World Cup Debut

If you didn’t know of Folarin Balogun before, you do now.

Balogun, 24, was identified as a breakout star candidate for the U.S. men’s national team in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and he fulfilled that prophecy in the first half of the USMNT‘s World Cup opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on Friday night.

The AS Monaco striker became the USMNT’s first multi-goal scorer at a World Cup since 1930, per ESPN Insights. He netted both in the first half - first capitalizing on a brilliant cross from Christian Pulisic in the 31st minute and then breaking the ankles of two Paraguayans to make it a brace just before halftime. Add in an own goal from Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla and Gio Reyna’s late-game trivela, and the USMNT dispatched Paraguay 4-1.

If that weren’t enough to win U.S. soccer fans over, his post-match quote will.

When asked how he planned to celebrate his historic World Cup debut, Balogun said, “I’ll probably just watch some Netflix.”

Relatable king.

Balogun’s electric play style would have won over the United States regardless of where this World Cup was fielded, but the fact his World Cup debut coincides with the first World Cup on U.S. soil since 1994 puts him on the fast track to becoming a household name.

Balogun was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and raised in London, granting him eligibility to play for England, Nigeria, or the United States, and he chose the U.S. So far, he chose correctly.

Overall, the USMNT couldn’t have scripted a dreamier start. Off the top of my head, the USMNT’s attack has never been more fun to watch than those first 45 minutes against Paraguay. Their four goals are the most ever for a USMNT in a World Cup in history, per ESPN Insights.

The goal now is to make sure this Friday in Los Angeles doesn’t feel like a fever dream by the end of the group stage. The USMNT will look to move into pristine standing in Group D when they face Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 10:16 AM.