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Who is Ricardo Pepi? Meet UMSNT's Christian Pulisic replacement for World Cup game vs. Australia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The United States found itself in a good position atop Group D heading into its second match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, set to face Australia in Seattle on Friday.
A win over Paraguay by a 4-1 score set the tone for what supporters were hoping would be a resounding success at the global soccer tournament.
However, USMNT fans were stunned when superstar Christian Pulisic was ruled out of action for that match with a calf injury 90 minutes before kickoff, as Mauricio Pochettino announced he would be replaced by Ricardo Pepi.
It was an odd change, as supporters expected a more like-for-like swap if Pulisic was to miss out, but instead the head coach decided to deploy the 23-year-old striker in place of their electric winger.
The Sporting News brings you all you need to know about the man replacing Pulisic in the USMNT starting XI, including where he comes from, what his best skills are, and what his international history looks like.
LIVE:Follow USA vs. Australia updates from 2026 World Cup game
Who is Ricardo Pepi?
Twenty-three-year-old Ricardo Pepi was born in El Paso, Texas and began playing soccer when he was four years old.
Through both his parents, Pepi was eligible to play for Mexico as well as his home country of the United States, and even attended training camps for the Mexico youth national team at U-17 level.
Yet in the end, Pepi elected to play for the USMNT, debuting against Honduras during 2022 World Cup qualifying in September of 2021. He would explode onto the international scene with a goal and two assists as the U.S. won on the road in competitive CONCACAF play, a relatively rare occurrence. Just 18 years old at the time, Pepi would follow that up with a brace against Jamaica a month later as he helped the U.S. secure a spot at the 2022 FIFA tournament in Qatar.
Pepi was then sensationally left out of the World Cup squad by Gregg Berhalter, a contentious decision that left the striker understandably upset, saying he hung up on Berhalter when the call came in. However, he re-established himself as a regular for the roster, taking part in the 2024 Copa America on home soil.
A serious knee injury saw him miss considerable time through 2025, but he has returned to become a consistent figure for the U.S. under Pochettino.
How good is Ricardo Pepi?
Pepi has been a consistent goal-scorer for the USMNT since debuting as a teenager.
With 13 international goals in 38 appearances, the 23-year-old has a long career in front of him at both the club and international level.
Most importantly, Pepi is a versatile player who can play multiple positions and has a number of different skills. While he is traditionally a true central striker, Pepi can also play out wide. He's a strong finisher, once called "a killer in the box" by Pochettino, and also a great presser who has a high work rate off the ball and generates high amounts of turnovers in the attacking half of the field.
One of Pepi's most critical attributes is his ability to come off the bench and score goals. By October 2024, with his goal against Panama in a friendly, Pepi had already scored six international goals as a substitute, putting him joint-second in USMNT history and one behind leader Eddie Johnson.
Where does Ricardo Pepi play club soccer?
Pepi first rose to prominence as a professional soccer player at MLS club FC Dallas, where he came through the youth program and debuted as a 16-year-old in 2019.
Eventually, Pepi would make a big-money move to Bundesliga club Augsburg in Germany, but the switch did not go well, and he made just 11 appearances his first season abroad. Augsburg cut ties quickly, first loaning him out to Dutch club Groningen before he impressed enough to make a permanent move to PSV.
Pepi has been exceptional in Eindhoven, playing mostly a reserve role behind club legend Luuk de Jong but making the most of his playing time, establishing an exceptional super-sub role off the bench.
His exploits both in the Eredivisie, where he has won three league titles, and in the UEFA Champions League have caught the eye of Premier League clubs. Pepi was heavily rumored to be headed to London-based Fulham last winter, and while the move fell through on deadline day, mentions of the deal being revived this summer remain scattered throughout the English press.
Ricardo Pepi stats with USMNT
As of the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Pepi had logged 37 international appearances for the United States, scoring 13 goals.
He has also assisted five others scored by teammates, as he combines well with others on the field thanks to his versatility both up front and out wide.
He has never been shown a card, either yellow or red, entering the 2026 World Cup.
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