Interview | USMNT & Monaco forward Folarin Balogun: If you score a lot of goals in the World Cup and you take your country far, it can change the direction of your career.Before he headed over to the US,Get French Football Newsspoke with AS Monaco and USMNT forward Folarin Balogun (24) ahead of this summers FIFA World Cup.What does it mean for you to represent your country at the World Cup this summer?Its a big, big opportunity. Theres a great sense of pride. Im really looking forward to representing America on home soil and making the country proud.Would you say that you have a very pivotal role to play for the US this summer? Lots of people are kind of looking at you now, even maybe more so than, say, Pulisic, as almost the leader of the attack at this years World CupYeah, definitely. I think its an opportunity, as I said, but its also the biggest sporting event in the world. There are going to be millions, if not billions, of eyes watching it. This is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent. Its what you want as a child.I think with great pressure also comes great responsibility. But overall, Imvery excited, and its important to take my club form into the international stage and bea pivotal player.What do you do to ensure that this pressure a good feeling, a good pressure, not a bad pressure?Yeah, I think its down to the work you do every day. I think if you train hard and you work hard when this opportunity comes, theres nothing to be scared of. But if youre not having maybe a good season and then you go into the World Cup, theres going to be a lot of pressure. So this is why, at the beginning of the season, I said the most important thing is to focus on what Im doing here in Monaco. And then, in the summer, when the World Cup comes, if I have a good season in Monaco (43 games, 19 goals, five assists), then it will be easier to go into the World Cup.The fact that you play at home, you are one of the most important players on the international team; this moment can change your life. Do you agree with that?Yeah, I agree. If you score a lot of goals in the World Cup and you take your country far in this competition, it can change the direction of your career. So this is something to excite you. I dont think its something to be nervous about. So Im looking forward to this.What are your biggest memories of the World Cup?I would say the biggest is the most recent, France v Argentina. Of course, there are more. But the last final was one of the most amazing football matches Ive ever watched. Soit just shows the magnitude of how important the World Cup is. And Ithink its not just me, but Im sure my teammates as well are very excited.The USMNT is always in the top 16 in the world, more or less. So whats your goal in this competition?To go as far as possible. Im not naive; Its not going to be easy. But the objective is to go as far as possible. The thing were saying within the USA is to believe. And why not? So, the objective is to go as far as possible. But I think its important just to set small objectives. Of course, make it out of the group, then prepare for the knockout phase.Do you feel soccer is becoming more and more a big deal in the USA?I hope so. When Im in Europe, you know, I only focus on European things when Imin Europe. You know, I play in Europe. When I go to America in the summer, then Im hoping tosee the country supporting football and everybody involved. And this would make me happy. And Im sure its important for the country. And this is what they want also.Which country has the best squad?I mean, in terms of on paper, Id probably say France. Theres no denying the quality in their squad. But the World Cup doesnt come down to who has the best team on paper. It comesdown to different things.Just in terms of Mauricio Pochettino and him coming in, I know hes said a lot about, Why not us? So hes trying to give the squad lots of belief. What has he brought? Hes so experienced in the Premier League as well; he is such a big name. Has he brought a lot of belief that the US can go far?Yeah, hes brought belief. Hes brought a fighting mentality. Hes a top coach. I think hes had a big responsibility coming in. The objective for him, as I said, is to goas far as we can in the World Cup. But hes definitely had a positive impact, makingthe squad a lot more competitive. Im looking forward to the summer, and Im looking forward to seeing how we do and, as I said, to making the country proud.Tell us about Paraguay, your first opponent in the World Cup[Theyre] very aggressive. When we played against them [last time], there was a big fight, and I think the coach ended up on the floor! So, I think this shows that its not going to be an easy game. But, yeah, Im hoping, in the World Cup, for better officiating. So, its not going to be so crazy.Do you think its going to be more than a World Cup for American citizens? Can you also help people be happy during the summer?Yeah, I hope so. I hope so. My dream is also that the way that the fans are in Europe, that this is going to be the same in America. So theres a lot more potential for football to grow in America. I hope the World Cup can be something that can help that happen.Okay. With all the problems we have in terms of geopolitics, do you think this World Cup can be like a break, a form of escapism?What happens around the world, in general, as a player, you have your opinions. But I think the most important thing is to remember my job. My job is obviously to play football. And through playing football and doing my job well, I can impact many lives, and I can help people across the world. I dont get involved in the political stuff because, as I said, thats not my job. But Im fully focused on having a good World Cup in America, making the country proud. And Im sure if I do this, its going to provide a lot of joy to a lot of people.This interview is a repost from Get French Football News and can be found HEREGFN|Luke Entwistle reporting fromMonaco

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Hundreds of seats went empty in Guadalajara, Mexico, as organisers were embarrassed by the low attendance at South Korea's first game against the Czech Republic.The match in Guadalajara was played out with several empty stands, despite Fifa President Gianni Infantino boasting in April about receiving half "500 million ticket requests".Infantino previously said: "In the last two World Cups together, we had 50 million ticket requests. Here, 500 million."Despite this, the 45,664-capacity venue was barely full, despite stadium announcers claiming an attendance of 44,985, leaving fewer than 700 seats officially unoccupied.TRENDINGStoriesVideosYour SayHowever, broadcasts revealed a markedly different picture, with vast amounts of empty seating clearly visible throughout the ground, particularly concentrated in premium hospitality sections.Fifa has been forced to slash prices across all 104 tournament fixtures in an attempt to draw supporters to venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico.Fans have voiced frustration over costs, with even the least attractive group stage encounters carrying price tags exceeding $300 (224).Tickets remain readily available through Fifa's official resale channels, including for the host nation's opening fixture against Paraguay in Los Angeles tonight.LATEST SPORTS NEWSWorld Cup 2026 day two: Mexico and South Korea kick off campaigns with wins, two games to comeGary Neville insists World Cup hosts must 'give up their country' after wading into visa rowITV viewers 'switch off' FIFA World Cup opening ceremony as football fans all share same complaintThe tournament's curtain-raiser at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium presented a contrasting attendance picture, with all 83,264 seats filled for the hosts' 2-0 triumph over South Africa.An opening ceremony featuring Shakira alongside a performance pairing K-pop Demon Hunters vocalist Ejae with Andrea Bocelli preceded the action on the pitch.But scenes outside the venue descended into violence, with demonstrators hurling petrol bombs and bricks at police officers.Thousands of protesters converged on the capital, transforming what organisers intended as a global celebration into political turmoil that threatened to overshadow the entire opening day.The demonstrations centred on Mexico's missing persons crisis and deteriorating labour conditions.Eight separate protests unfolded simultaneously across the city, organised by a coalition spanning searching mothers' collectives, the CNTE teachers' union, federal judiciary workers and transport organisations.On the pitch, Mexico got off to a winning start against South Africa, which saw the co-host go top of the group on goal difference.Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez helped Mexico win 2-0.South Korea came from behind against the Czech Republic, after Wolves' Ladislav Krejci opened the scoring for the European side.An equaliser from Hwang In-beom and the winner from substitute Oh Hyeon-Gyu helped South Korea to their first victory of the tournament.Hong Myung-bo, South Korea's coach, said after the game: "The win itself makes me happy, but what's even more positive is that our boys won by not giving up."Czech manager Miroslav Koubek rued "some mistakes", saying: "We played very well, it could have been a draw, and we could have won as well."Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

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