'I made the right decision' - Monaco forward reveals why he chose USMNT over Nigeria and England

AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun has opened up on the reasons behind his decision to represent the United States men's national team ahead of Nigeria, crediting the unwavering support of American fans for influencing his international allegiance.

Balogun made the revelation after delivering a match-winning performance in the United States' opening fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he scored twice in a convincing victory over Paraguay.

The former Arsenal forward found the back of the net in the first half, spearheading the Americans to a commanding win and giving the host nation a dream start to their World Cup campaign.

His clinical display earned widespread praise from supporters as the USA signalled their intent to make a deep run in the tournament.

Speaking after the encounter, Balogun highlighted the role the fans played in his decision to commit his international future to the United States.

"When I committed, I've always said the fans gave me so much motivation, showed me so much support," he said via ESPN. "For me, the most important thing has always been to repay that.

"I feel like today is a great opportunity, and I just want to continue to show the fans I made the right decision. I'm completely proud, and I want to continue to make the fans proud as well."

Before making his senior debut in 2023, Balogun was eligible to represent three countries — Nigeria, England, and the United States.

The 24-year-old had previously featured for England at various youth levels and was also strongly linked with a switch to the Super Eagles before ultimately pledging his international future to the Americans.

His decision was considered a major boost for the United States, given his pedigree and potential, having emerged through Arsenal's academy before establishing himself as one of Europe's promising attacking talents.

Having started the tournament in impressive fashion, he will now be eager to maintain his goalscoring form and help guide the Americans deeper into the competition.