Balogun set for US debut in CONCACAF clash with regional rivals Mexico

MIAMI: Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is set to make his much anticipated debut for the US in Thursday’s CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against regional rivals Mexico.

The Final Four tournament in Las Vegas marks the start of the road to the 2026 World Cup which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Canada play Panama in Thursday’s other semifinal with the final and third-place games also at the Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

With no qualification process for the three World Cup co-hosts, it is going to be the CONCACAF tournaments, including this month’s Gold Cup, where the teams will seek to build toward the big one.

American fans have high hopes for Balogun, who scored 21 goals in France’s Ligue 1 this season where he was on loan to Reims.

The New York-born forward, who moved to England as a two-year old, recently switched his national allegiance to the US from England, where he had played for the Under-21 team.

The US have lacked a consistent goalscoring center-forward, capable of making the most of the opportunities created by the likes of Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna.

“I’m just settling in, getting to know everyone. There’s been a lot of noise surrounding me coming but I feel like this is just the nature of the sport,” Balogun said after teaming up with the squad.

“I’m obviously used to competing and I’m used to the pressure of playing at Arsenal and having that expectation of yourself.

Interim US head coach BJ Callaghan will have to decide whether to hand Balogun his debut from the outset against El Tri or to keep faith with Ricardo Pepi and use his new weapon from the bench.

“I’m coming in with a mindset that I need to earn my place. I’m not assuming I’m going to come in and