{"id":5421,"date":"2023-09-02T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2023-09-02T11:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/piece\/?p=5421"},"modified":"2025-07-20T08:16:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T08:16:57","slug":"meet-folarin-balogun-arsenal-loanee-and-the-hottest-player-in-french-league-who-is-eligible-to-play-for-3-countries-including-nigeria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.withinnigeria.com\/piece\/2023\/09\/02\/meet-folarin-balogun-arsenal-loanee-and-the-hottest-player-in-french-league-who-is-eligible-to-play-for-3-countries-including-nigeria\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Folarin Balogun, Arsenal Loanee and the hottest player in French League who is eligible to play for 3 countries including Nigeria"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal FC young striker, Folarin Balogun is one of the hottest footballers<\/a> in Europe. The 21 year old frontman, who is on loan at Reims in Ligue 1, the highest division of club football in France, is having a prolific season, after scoring 17 goals in 27 matches. He is only behind global superstar, Kylian Mbappe and Canada\u2019s striker Jonathan David with 19 goals each, in the race to the Golden Boot. He has outscored Lionel Messi, Neymar, Ben Yedder, and many other superstars in the French Ligue 1.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Eligible Countries to Play For<\/h2>\n

Three countries – Nigeria<\/a>, England, and the United States of America, are vying for the talented footballer, who is eligible to play for any of them.<\/p>\n

Balogun has represented England at international Youth levels. He played for the England under-17 team at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2018; the tournament was hosted by England. He also represented England\u2019s under- 18 national team, the under-20 team and the under-21 team. Before playing for England\u2019s under-18 team, Folarin briefly featured for the USA under-18 team and has been followed up by the USA\u2019s football association for him to switch his allegiance.<\/p>\n

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT)<\/strong> has been on Folarin\u2019s heels to represent them and snub Nigeria and England. The interim coach of the USMNT, Anthony Hudson, disclosed to ESPN that he has held talks with the striker. Folarin made four appearances for the US under-18 team, scoring two goals in a tournament hosted by the Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

Folarin has also expressed his interest to play for his parents\u2019 country, Nigeria. He however stated that he enjoys how the English Men National team plays due to their similarities with his parent club, Arsenal.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Why can he play for any of these three countries?<\/h2>\n

Balogun can play for any of Nigeria, England and USA because of his ancestry, birth and Folarin was born in Brooklyn, New York City, USA, to Nigeria parents. His family moved to England when Folarin was two years old, meaning he was raised in a European country. This means by descent, he is a Nigerian. He is an American by birth while He is an English by naturalization.<\/p>\n

In order for Folarin to play for the USMNT, he would file a one-time switch with FIFA.<\/p>\n

<\/a>FIFA\u2019s Eligibility Rules<\/h2>\n

According to FIFA\u2019s<\/a> 2021 eligibility rules, a footballer can play for a National team if:<\/p>\n