Folarin Balogun Did Not Reveal Charlie Kirk Shirt After Scoring in World Cup Match

A recent claim circulating on social media suggested that U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun unveiled a t-shirt featuring late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk after scoring during a World Cup match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026. However, this assertion has been debunked as false.

The rumor began with a post on X by user @xakundo, who stated, "THIS IS FOR CHARLIE KIRK," and shared an image that implied Balogun celebrated his goal by revealing the shirt. Yet, this image has been confirmed as digitally altered, with no evidence from live footage or credible media reports to support the claim.

In reality, during the match, which ended with a score of 4-1 in favor of the U.S., Balogun, a forward for AS Monaco, scored two goals. Notably, the viral image inaccurately indicated that his third goal occurred at the 46:00 mark, when it was actually netted at 49:08. Coverage from FOX Sports captures Balogun's celebration following his goals but does not depict any shirt unveiling.

Additional investigations into the viral image reveal that it lacks authenticity. Reports from AI checking platforms corroborate that the image is not genuine.

Charlie Kirk, the individual referenced in the post, tragically lost his life on September 10, 2025, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding his name in contemporary discourse.