El Pasoans Ricardo Pepi, Alejandro Zendejas Make World Cup

I was already excited for the FIFA World Cup next summer, but now I’m even more invested in every USMNT match.

Because El Paso will officially be represented on soccer’s biggest stage.

After days of reports and leaked roster lists circulating online, the United States Men’s National Team officially confirmed Tuesday that Ricardo Pepi and Alejandro Zendejas made the 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For a city where soccer has always been deeply part of the culture, it’s a pretty incredible moment.

El Paso Will Have Two Players At The FIFA World Cup

Pepi, currently a striker for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, returns to the World Cup conversation after narrowly missing the 2022 roster. Since then, he’s continued building his career in Europe and becoming one of the top young attacking players in the USMNT pool.

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Zendejas earned his first World Cup call-up following a strong run with Club América in Liga MX. Now both players are headed to the biggest stage in international soccer.

Diego Luna’s Omission Was A Major Surprise

While Pepi and Zendejas made the final squad, former El Paso Locomotive midfielder Diego Luna was noticeably left off the roster.

Luna had emerged as a serious World Cup candidate following standout performances with Real Salt Lake and the USMNT. Since leaving El Paso in a record-breaking transfer from the Locomotive to MLS in 2022, Luna has continued raising his national profile.

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That’s why his omission caught so many fans off guard.

Reports indicated Luna was ultimately left out in favor of Gio Reyna despite Luna’s recent form and growing role within the national team setup.

The World Cup Just Became More Personal For El Paso Fans

El Paso has always been a soccer city.

From youth leagues across the Borderland to packed watch parties during international tournaments, the sport already means a lot here.

Now there are two more reasons for El Pasoans to tune in when the World Cup begins.

USMNT hit the pitch against Paraguay as their first World Cup match on June 12.