Star Forward Folarin Balogun Departs USMNT Camp Injured

Forward Folarin Balogun and teammates DeJuan Jones and Sean Zawadzki have withdrawn from the current United States men`s national team training camp due to injuries. This camp marks the longest stretch coach Mauricio Pochettino will have the squad together since taking over in September 2024. Walker Zimmerman, Nathan Harriel, and Paxten Aaronson have been called up as replacements for the upcoming friendly matches against Turkey and Switzerland, which serve as preparation for the Gold Cup.

Balogun, who plays for Monaco, is specifically dealing with an ankle injury. This setback means he will miss the opportunity to make his first appearance under Pochettino`s management. He was previously sidelined with a shoulder issue when the Argentine coach was initially appointed, and now the team faces another camp without their key striker. Balogun isn`t the only prominent player missing; Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna are also unavailable.

Several players are unavailable due to commitments with their clubs, particularly concerning the Club World Cup taking place this summer. Christian Pulisic, specifically, was intentionally left off the roster to allow him rest during the off-season. While player absences in a standard Gold Cup might not typically draw significant attention (as the tournament often features more domestic league talent), the context is different this time. With the men`s World Cup scheduled for next summer and the USMNT having automatically qualified, this Gold Cup is the last significant competitive tournament before the main event.

Considering this camp represents Pochettino`s most extended period working directly with the first team, combined with it being the final competitive opportunity before the World Cup, it was seen as a crucial chance to move past the recent CONCACAF Nations League disappointment. In that tournament, the USMNT not only failed to win the trophy (which Mexico claimed) but also lost the third-place match to Canada. Improvement under Pochettino is essential, but achieving it becomes considerably more challenging without the full core of the squad available to implement his tactical approach.

Balogun`s absence opens up significant opportunities for other forwards on the roster, such as Patrick Agyemang and Brian White. However, the team`s ongoing struggles with scoring could persist if the available attackers in the camp fail to find their goal-scoring form.