The U.S. men’s national team endured highs and lows in 2025, but a strong ending to the year has Folarin Balogun confident for what’s to come.

Balogun helped the USMNT end the year on a five-match unbeaten run, earning victories over Uruguay, Paraguay, Australia, and Japan along the way. The Monaco striker scored in three-consecutive windows to close the calendar year, putting himself in strong contention to be in Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster next summer.

After working with Pochettino in periods of the Argentine’s first full year in charge of the program, Balogun looks to be enjoying his best run in the USMNT squad. While the atmosphere surrounding the squad was certainly different under Gregg Berhalter, Balogun credited Pochettino’s changes at the helm, admitting that players know roster spots aren’t guaranteed based off of your club situation.

“I think you have to give credit to Pochettino and his staff,” Balogun said in an interview with FIFA. “They have created an atmosphere where nobody feels like their place is guaranteed. I think that is the most important thing you can do when you have such a big pool of players like the USA does. It was easy for maybe some guys who didn’t get previously called up to almost psychologically go into a place where you don’t feel like you can get picked, you don’t feel like your domestic league warrants you getting picked for the national team because that’s what you’ve been shown before.”

“But Pochettino has come in with a completely new philosophy and if he thinks someone is playing well and is playing in a division like Major League Soccer then he will pick them,” he added. “That is a wake-up call for everybody and naturally that will get a reaction, but he’s also been able to add the smartness and the tactician side to it and I think both sides are gelling together.”

The USMNT were paired with Paraguay, Australia, and a European playoff winner for June’s group stage. Two of those nations suffered defeat against the Americans last fall, while Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo will be the USMNT’s third and final opponent in Group D.

Turkey defeated the Americans 2-1 in friendly play last June while Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo will all pose a new challenge for the USMNT to prepare for.

Balogun believes the Americans’ past encounters with Paraguay and Australia should help in their preparation, especially knowing they came out on the winning side of things.

“When you’re playing teams that you played recently, it makes the opposition analysis a bit easier,” Balogun said. “The memories in the players’ minds will be a bit more familiar…playing Paraguay, I knew how difficult and physical that game was. I think that will be helpful for us and we need to use that as an advantage.

“I think the biggest psychological advantage is that against Australia and Paraguay we won,” he added. “We know we can win and if the tactics and intensity and commitment – which I’m sure it will be for the World Cup – are spot-on then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t win again.”

Balogun is in the midst of the second half of his club season with Ligue 1 side Monaco, featuring in domestic and European competitions. The 24-year-old has scored seven goals in 20 appearances for the club in all competitions, with three of those coming in his last three consecutive UEFA Champions League starts.

Monaco currently sits in the playoff places of the UCL table, but face two stern tests against Real Madrid and Juventus to close league phase action over the next three weeks. Balogun will certainly need to keep the goals coming if Monaco wants to stay in this season’s competition and the American is hoping to do just that before month’s end.

“I’m content,” Balogun said. “I’m still looking to be a lot more decisive in those games. I know I have the opportunity to make a bigger impact in those types of games. But I’ve scored three in the last three and this is my first year playing in the Champions League being a starter consistently. I’m able to contribute with important goals that are helping us win games and help us potentially progress to the next round. I’m definitely content but I definitely want to strive for more.”

Balogun and Monaco will continue their domestic schedule on Saturday against National League side Orleans in Coupe De France action.