Herculez Gomez is excited at the prospect that Arsenal star Folarin Balogun could represent the US Men’s national team after his actions over the international break.
Folarin Balogun was initially selected by England’s U21s, before the Arsenal academy product pulled out with an injury and he was then seen in the USA.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Brooklyn, is eligible to play for the USMNT, but he has, so far, repped the colours of England’s younger age groups.
After scoring 17 goals for Ligue 1 side Stade Reims this season, Balogun would have hoped for some recognition from England’s senior side and even more so when Marcus Rashford pulled out with injury.
But it wasn’t meant to be, which saw Balogun then fly to the US over the International break, rather than represent England U21s – Gareth Southgate shared his thoughts.
Perhaps this is a sign that he is very open to repping the US on the international stage, especially with America co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
Either way, it left former USMNT forward Gomez pretty excited, as he told ESPN.
“I think it grows (buzz around Balogun),” said Gomez. “If you are telling me that he’s in the youth programme for England and he doesn’t get selected for the full programme (senior side).
“Then he sends a cryptic message about ‘wanting to go where he feels loved’, then Marcus Rashford gets injured and you would think he would get called up. It would be logical and he doesn’t and they decide not to bring anybody in.
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“All of a sudden, he pulls out ‘mysteriously’ from the youth camp in England. And he’s going to take a 10-hour flight across the Atlantic, over 7000 miles and to go to Orlando of all places. It happens to be the same place that the US men’s national team is staying at. The same resort that they are staying in.
“Where he has got friends like Yunus Musah. He’s got friends like Bryan Reynolds. He’s got other friends, I believe Taylor Booth as well. Timothy Weah, who isn’t there, and all of a sudden, Anthony Hudson has been in contact. Players like Matt Turner have been in contact. It feels like an official college recruiting trip.
“The ball is in his court. You want to feel the love. The US men’s national Twitter came out in full force and showed him the ove. He is getting it everywhere he goes. The signs point to this man is enjoying himself in the US and he will, most likely, make a decision that I would think he goes to the US.”
TICKET TO THE 2026 WORLD CUP
Unless there is a major drop-off, if Balogun does decide to represent America on football’s biggest stage, then he is almost guaranteeing himself a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Given the depth in quality England have, not forgetting the record-breaking Harry Kane up top, then even if Balogun performs, he will find it difficult to play on a regular basis for the Three Lions.
So, from that perspective, this is probably an opportunity too hard to turn down for the player.
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