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El Paso Stars Shine on World Cup Stage
13 Jun
Summary
- Two players from El Paso, Ricardo Pepi and Alejandro Zendejas, debuted.
- Both players were listed as potential substitutes for the opening match.
- Diego Luna, another El Paso native, was surprisingly omitted from the roster.
Two players with El Paso ties, Ricardo Pepi and Alejandro Zendejas, are featured on the United States Men's National Team's 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pepi, originally from San Elizario, and Zendejas, born in Juarez, were both listed as potential substitutes for the United States' opening match against Paraguay, which took place on Friday, June 12, in Los Angeles.
Pepi, a 23-year-old striker, has had a notable career progression, moving from FC Dallas to European clubs like FC Augsburg, FC Groningen, and currently PSV Eindhoven, where he contributed to their 2023-24 league title. This marks his first World Cup appearance, having missed the 2022 roster.
Zendejas, a 28-year-old winger, grew up in El Paso and also came through the FC Dallas Academy before playing in Mexico's Liga MX and currently for Club America. He committed to the USMNT in 2023 after representing both Mexican and American youth national teams.
However, 22-year-old Diego Luna, who previously played for the El Paso Locomotive, was a notable omission from the World Cup squad. Reports suggest manager Mauricio Pochettino prioritized players with European club experience over those playing in MLS, a factor that likely influenced Luna's exclusion despite his strong club form.
