Folarin Balogun Is on the 2026 TIME100 Next

At the World Cup this summer, Folarin Balogun sent an unmistakable message that he’s the new face of U.S. men’s soccer. In his first Cup appearance, Balogun—who grew up in London but chose to compete for the U.S., where he was born—scored a pair of goals in a 4-1 trouncing of Paraguay, created an own goal in a victory against Australia, then scored again in the team’s 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun was such a potent force on the field that when FIFA overturned his one-game suspension for the round-of-16 tilt against Belgium, after a phone call from President Donald Trump, the world took notice. Balogun endeared himself to teammates and fans by maintaining a wide-eyed curiosity about America. “It’s beyond explainable how special and ​unique my story is,” Balogun said during the tournament. Expectations will rise for the U.S. at the 2030 World Cup. With Balogun as its striker, the team’s on solid footing.