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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Balogun can't defend his mistake</li><li>Striker didn't know Aaronsons were related</li><li>U.S. to face T&amp;T on Monday</li></ul>

'There's not much to defend myself!' - USMNT star Folarin Balogun explains his side of the story after not realizing Brenden and Paxten Aaronson were brothers during U.S. training

CONCACAF Nations League

Jamaica

<p>Richards revealed last week that Balogun didn't realize Brenden and Paxten Aaronson were brothers until midway through the first training session, when teammates informed him that the two were, in fact, related.</p><p>"It was funny," Richards revealed. "We were warming up today and Flo had no idea they were brothers. He thought that they just had the same last name. I was like, 'Bro, they look exactly the same, sound the same, play the exact same!'"</p><p></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzrP7ugNl26/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Social media had a laugh at the striker's expense, as Balogun showed that he is still very much learning about the group as he continues to adjust to life with the USMNT.</p><p></p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Balogun only joined up with the U.S. earlier this year, having spent his youth career playing with England's national teams. He will have met Brenden Aaronson early on, with the Union Berlin midfielder joining up with the striker as part of his first camp earlier this year.</p><p>This camp, though, is Balogun's first introduction to Paxten Aaronson, and Balogun admitted he should have realized sooner that the two were related.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>"There's not really too much to defend myself," Balogun admitted. "Pax was called up into camp and I just remember looking at him and I thought in my head, 'He looks very similar to Brenden'. As the day was going on, I think Brendan called Pax a brother or something and it was strange to me. Honestly, I didn't realize. You learn something new every day, I guess! Now that I've been told they're brothers, it does make sense. The similarities are there!"</p>

WHAT BALOGUN SAID

<p>Up next for the USMNT is another match against Trinidad &amp; Tobago on Monday, with this clash being hosted by the Soca Warriors.</p><p>The U.S. defeated T&amp;T, 3-0, on Thursday, with Balogun assisting the third and final goal, which was scored by Gio Reyna. Should the U.S. hold onto the win in this second leg, the team would book a spot in next summer's Copa America.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR USMNT?

'There's not much to defend myself!' - USMNT star Folarin Balogun explains his side of the story after not realizing Brenden and Paxten Aaronson were brothers during U.S. training | Goal.com English Qatar

Folarin Balogun offered his version of events after Chris Richards revealed the U.S. men&apos;s national team star didn&apos;t know the Aaronsons were related.

&apos;There&apos;s not much to defend myself!&apos; - USMNT star Folarin Balogun explains his side of the story after not realizing Brenden and Paxten Aaronson were brothers during U.S. training