You may have heard of Folarin Balogun making some waves after a solid showing for the U.S. Men’s National Team against Japan. Balogun had a pretty wonderful season at club level. Veteran center back Tim Ream and star winger Christian Pulisic lead Pochettino’s USMNT side. Still, his display has only added to the debate about his role under USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino. While he showed the instincts of a top modern striker, it’s still unclear whether he has done enough to lock down the starting No. 9 spot in Pochettino’s system.
Balogun Responds to Pressure on the International Stage
Leading up to the international window doubts were eaten into Balogun’s consistency and clinical nature. Having experienced a tough time with form at club level, questions were raised as to whether the forward could be relied upon to give his country an outlet. But up against a Japan side that displayed both discipline and technical ability, it was Balogun who did so in the best way possible. His movement off the ball was crisp as they come, probing Japanese weaknesses from the first whistle, drawing defenders to create spaces for others.
While Balogun was just a 15-year-old unknown academy player back in 2016, his trajectory changed completely during his high-profile loan at Stade de Reims in the 2022–2023 season, where he entered the ranks of Europe’s most sought-after young strikers. Aside from the goal itself, Balogun’s hold-up play and aggression to press high at the pitch opened up a structural spine for the USMNT that had otherwise been missing in recent outings. With a performance that mattered under the pressure you just need to do, he stirred silence from critics and re-established himself as his nation’s premier attacking threat
Pochettino’s Tactical Vision and the Striker Conundrum
As great as Balogun’s goal-scoring achievement has been, it is not quite so simple when it comes to winning a first-team role under Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino is known for requiring his central strikers to have massive tactical flexibility, high-pressing and complex link-up play. Now that the Argentine manager’s tactical system is well-established ahead of the 2026 World Cup, it is clear that although he wants his strikers to score goals, it goes beyond that for Pochettino; the nine must fit into the build-up play and trouble the opponent from high.
The main aspects of Balogun’s game were on show in the recent match against Japan, with much-improved defensive work rate and tracking back. But Pochettino’s system demands perfection in performing his arduous physical and tactical duties. The manager’s past has been to favor forwards that are able to constantly drop and help in transition while always being a threat inside the 18. Though Balogun displays particular components of this entire ability, he still has to convince Pochettino he’s capable of playing such a multifaceted role every week against different tactical line-ups rather than just accounting for sweet moments on the international stage.
The Fierce Competition for the USMNT Number Nine Shirt
Adding to the challenge of securing the last spot on roster is all the talent they are competing with currently for that starting striker spot. Balogun is not alone either, with competition coming from other forwards that offer different tactical options to Pochettino. Both Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent have done plenty to make a case for their inclusion, each presenting unique profiles. But with Pepi’s lethal efficiency inside the penalty area, and Sargent’s deep-lying hold-up play and defensive work-rate intensity, Pochettino has different tactical options at his disposal depending on who is being faced.
That internal competition nevertheless indicates how a single eye-catching display against Japan though vital isn’t enough for Balogun to firmly cement his place in the starting eleven. Current form, versatility and performances in training have come into heavy consideration for Pochettino. Balogun must now capitalise on the momentum his international goals bring him and maintain that consistency at club level with Monaco. To really cement his status as Pochettino’s foremost option at number nine, he must repeatedly eclipse his compatriots and demonstrate that it is those particular skills that make the team more functional and threatening on a more regular basis.
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