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El Paso has two players on the United States Men's National Team roster and both will be making their FIFA World Cup debuts when the 2026 edition kicks off, for America Friday in Los Angeles against Paraguay.
Striker Ricardo Pepi and Juarez-born winger Alejandro Zendejas should both be attacking options, likely off the bench at first, on the 26-player roster when the USMNT begins group stage play.
More: Best Dallas, Houston, Texas bars to watch World Cup 2026 games
More: Diego Luna's USMNT World Cup roster snub a surprise. Pepi makes team
The 23-year-old Ricardo Pepi grew up in San Elizario before joining the FC Dallas Academy at 13. He came through their system, making his senior club debut at 16 years old in 2019.
He went on to star for FC Dallas for three seasons as their No. 9 (center striker) before joining Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. He was later loaned to Eredivisie club FC Groningen, where he became a prominent player in the top Dutch league. In 2023, he signed with PSV Eindhoven for $9.8 million and helped his team to the 2023–24 Eredivisie title.
He did not make the 2022 World Cup roster, so this is his first World Cup. Pepi had 16 goals for Eindhoven this year in 26 appearances. In three friendly appearances for the USMNT, he had an assist against Senegal.
He has been linked to Fulham of the English Premier League, but a reported transfer fell through in the spring.
[IMG alt="Alejandro Zendejas
• Edad: 28 años
• Posición: Extremo / atacante
• Selección: Estados Unidos
• Equipo: Club América"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-el-paso-times/f6d34d788d99dab7788487795afa0567[/IMG]
More: Large pro-Club América crowd enjoys friendly between Mexican giants and FC Juárez
The 28-year-old Zendejas grew up on the West side of El Paso after being born in Juarez and was attending Hornedo Middle School when he was called up to the FC Dallas Academy as a 13-year-old in 2012.
He worked his way up to the senior club, and when he made his FC Dallas debut in 2015 at 17, he was the youngest player in MLS at the time. He joined Guadalajara Chivas of Mexico's Liga MX in 2016 and played there for four years before joining Necaxa in 2020–2021.
He was at Club America the next year and has been there ever since.
Growing up, he played on both Mexican and American age-group national teams before making a full-time commitment to the USMNT in 2023.
In 12 matches for America this year, he had six goals and four assists. He subbed on in the friendly against Senegal on May 31, his only USMNT appearance in the recent three-match friendly window.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso natives Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas join USMNT squad
Continue reading...
Striker Ricardo Pepi and Juarez-born winger Alejandro Zendejas should both be attacking options, likely off the bench at first, on the 26-player roster when the USMNT begins group stage play.
More: Best Dallas, Houston, Texas bars to watch World Cup 2026 games
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More: Diego Luna's USMNT World Cup roster snub a surprise. Pepi makes team
Ricardo Pepi
The 23-year-old Ricardo Pepi grew up in San Elizario before joining the FC Dallas Academy at 13. He came through their system, making his senior club debut at 16 years old in 2019.
He went on to star for FC Dallas for three seasons as their No. 9 (center striker) before joining Bundesliga club FC Augsburg. He was later loaned to Eredivisie club FC Groningen, where he became a prominent player in the top Dutch league. In 2023, he signed with PSV Eindhoven for $9.8 million and helped his team to the 2023–24 Eredivisie title.
He did not make the 2022 World Cup roster, so this is his first World Cup. Pepi had 16 goals for Eindhoven this year in 26 appearances. In three friendly appearances for the USMNT, he had an assist against Senegal.
He has been linked to Fulham of the English Premier League, but a reported transfer fell through in the spring.
[IMG alt="Alejandro Zendejas
• Edad: 28 años
• Posición: Extremo / atacante
• Selección: Estados Unidos
• Equipo: Club América"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-el-paso-times/f6d34d788d99dab7788487795afa0567[/IMG]
More: Large pro-Club América crowd enjoys friendly between Mexican giants and FC Juárez
Alejandro Zendejas
The 28-year-old Zendejas grew up on the West side of El Paso after being born in Juarez and was attending Hornedo Middle School when he was called up to the FC Dallas Academy as a 13-year-old in 2012.
He worked his way up to the senior club, and when he made his FC Dallas debut in 2015 at 17, he was the youngest player in MLS at the time. He joined Guadalajara Chivas of Mexico's Liga MX in 2016 and played there for four years before joining Necaxa in 2020–2021.
He was at Club America the next year and has been there ever since.
Growing up, he played on both Mexican and American age-group national teams before making a full-time commitment to the USMNT in 2023.
In 12 matches for America this year, he had six goals and four assists. He subbed on in the friendly against Senegal on May 31, his only USMNT appearance in the recent three-match friendly window.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached, [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso natives Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas join USMNT squad
Continue reading...
