Folarin Balogun’s Absence from Concacaf Gold Cup
Folarin Balogun, a forward for the United States men’s national soccer team, will not participate in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup due to an ankle injury. His absence is part of a larger shake-up in the roster, which also sees defender DeJuan Jones and midfielder Sean Zawadzki dropped by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. This decision comes as the U.S. squad is already missing key players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, among others.
Roster Adjustments and New Additions
In an effort to fill the gaps, Pochettino has brought in defenders Walker Zimmerman and Nathan Harriel, as well as forward Paxten Aaronson. Aaronson, 21, is set to make his debut alongside his brother Brenden, marking a historic moment for the family on the national stage. Previously, Paxten’s only appearance for the U.S. team was during a friendly against Colombia in January 2023.
This latest roster adjustment has seen four out of the original 27-man squad announced on May 22 replaced, including goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who was sidelined with an oblique injury and has been replaced by Chris Brady.
Potential Debuts and Upcoming Matches
Notably, Harriel is among a group of seven players who could make their debut for the U.S. in the Gold Cup, joining other hopefuls such as Brady, goalkeeper Matt Freese, and midfielder Quinn Sullivan, as well as others.
Following a disappointing run at last year’s Copa América and Concacaf Nations League, this training camp marks a crucial preparation period as it is the last extensive FIFA window before players regroup ahead of the World Cup next year. Players are currently gathering in Chicago in anticipation of their friendly matches against Turkey on June 7 and Switzerland on June 10, before facing Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, and Haiti in the Gold Cup’s first round.
Complete U.S. Roster
- Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago), Matt Freese (New York City), Zack Steffen (Colorado), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace)
- Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Orlando), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)
- Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (San Diego), Diego Luna (Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven)
- Forwards: Paxton Aaronson (Utrecht), Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Damion Downs (Cologne), Brian White (Vancouver), Haji Wright (Coventry)
