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Ricardo Pepi stepped into one of the biggest moments of his young career on June 19, 2026, starting for the US Men’s National Team in a 2-0 World Cup victory over Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle. With star attacker Christian Pulisic sidelined by injury, the 23-year-old forward from El Paso, Texas, seized his opportunity on one of soccer’s grandest stages.
A homecoming 32 years in the making
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. For the US, it marks the first time the tournament has been played on American soil since 1994.
Pepi had already made his World Cup debut off the bench against Paraguay on June 12, 2026. But starting against Australia was a different animal entirely. Pulisic’s absence meant the offensive burden shifted, and Pepi responded by delivering the kind of performance that justified head coach Gregg Berhalter’s faith in his depth chart.
The El Paso native’s path to this moment has been anything but ordinary. He launched his professional career with FC Dallas before making the jump to Europe, signing with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Team chemistry over individual heroics
What stood out most from Pepi’s post-match comments wasn’t self-promotion. It was his emphasis on the collective. He repeatedly highlighted the team’s togetherness, describing a group that genuinely enjoys competing alongside each other.
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English (US) ·