Why did Folarin Balogun switch allegiance to the US? Is Folarin Balogun eligible to play for Nigeria?

Professional football player, Folarin Balogun has switched allegiance to the United States Men’s National Team after representing both the United States and England at youth levels for years.

According to FIFA, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s request to change Balogun’s nationality eligibility from England was approved on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. He is now eligible to be selected by the USMNT to represent the team at the 2026 World Cup.

Is Folarin Balogun eligible to play for Nigeria?

Folarin Balogun is eligible to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria due to his parents’ heritage as Nigerians. He was born to Nigerian parents in New York City.

“My parents were on holiday there for a few months because we have a family in New York. But very soon after I was born, we all moved back to London,” he once said in an interview.

“London is my city, it’s where I grew up, where my friends are, and if people ask me where I’m from, I say I’m English. But yes, I’m a mixture of all those cultures,” he added.