Nigeria may not have been on the pitch when the United States opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay, but the African giant had an indirect role in one of the most significant victories in American World Cup history, Footynaija reports.
The United States produced a commanding display to defeat Paraguay 4-1 at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, June 12, in their opening Group D match. Mauricio Pochettino’s side dominated possession with 63 percent of the ball, registered 17 shots compared to Paraguay’s eight, and completed 577 passes at an impressive 91 percent accuracy rate.
The breakthrough came after just seven minutes when Paraguay midfielder Damián Bobadilla accidentally turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.
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The hosts doubled their advantage in the 31st minute through striker Folarin Balogun, who calmly finished after breaking through the Paraguayan defence. Just before halftime, Balogun struck again in stoppage time, collecting a pass from Malik Tillman before curling a superb effort into the top corner.
Paraguay reduced the deficit in the 73rd minute through substitute Maurício after a setup from Julio Enciso, but the Americans had the final word. Deep into stoppage time, Giovanni Reyna scored a stunning fourth goal from an Alex Freeman assist to seal a memorable 4-1 victory.
Balogun’s two-goal performance was particularly historic. The Monaco forward became the first United States player to score twice in a single World Cup match since the 1930 tournament, ending a wait of 96 years and helping the Americans achieve one of their biggest victories on football’s grandest stage.
The Nigerian connection behind Balogun’s historic night
Balogun’s starring role carried a strong Nigerian connection.
Born in New York to Nigerian parents, the striker was eligible to represent the United States, Nigeria and England at international level. His Yoruba first name, Folarin, reflects his Nigerian heritage, while he also held the option of playing for the Super Eagles through his parents.
Although his family moved to England when he was just two years old and he developed through Arsenal’s academy system, Nigeria remained one of the countries monitoring his progress. During his youth career, Balogun represented both the United States and England age-grade teams, with many expecting him to eventually play for the Three Lions.
The Nigeria Football Federation made efforts to keep track of the highly-rated forward, but the United States intensified their pursuit ahead of the 2026 World Cup. In 2023, US Soccer presented Balogun with a clear pathway to becoming the team’s first-choice striker, while senior stars including Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie played a role in convincing him to switch allegiance.
FIFA approved his one-time international switch in May 2023, ending speculation over his future and officially committing him to the United States.
Three years later, that decision paid off spectacularly. Balogun’s brace against Paraguay not only gave the co-hosts a dream start to their World Cup campaign but also helped the United States break a record that had stood since 1930. Had the Nigerian-eligible forward chosen a different international path, American football history on Friday night might have looked very different.
