13/06/2026
USA and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun became an American citizen by an unexpected twist of fate.
His mother, Florence, was living in London but travelled to New York in 2001 to visit family while pregnant.
When she tried to fly back to England, airline officials refused to let her board without medical clearance.
Stranded in Brooklyn, she stayed with relatives - and soon after, Balogun was born in the United States.
Years later, he is now leading the line for the USMNT, recently scoring a brace in their 4-1 win over Paraguay and cementing his place as the country’s first-choice striker.
What a unique story of destiny!
