Balogun's birthright citizenship made him eligible for USMNT

Folarin Balogun became a U.S. citizen by birth after his Nigerian mother gave birth to him in New York while on a trip to the United States. Unable to fly home because she was in the late stages of pregnancy, she remained in New York until his birth. When Balogun was one month old, his mother returned with him to England, where he was raised before eventually choosing to represent the United States at the World Cup.

Balogun's story comes as birthright citizenship remains at the center of a national debate. President Donald Trump has sought to end the automatic granting of citizenship to children born on U.S. soil, though the Supreme Court recently blocked his effort to limit the long-standing constitutional right. Mekahlo Medina reports for NBC Los Angeles

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