Johnny Cardoso Officially Revealed Atlético Madrid Player

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Johnny Cardoso is taking his career to the next level…

The 23-year-old Brazilian American professional soccer player and United States men’s national team midfielder is ready to “evolve and learn” from coach Diego Simeone as he was unveiled as an Atlético Madrid player on Wednesday, backing his new team to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona for trophies.

Atlético confirmed the signing of Cardoso, 23, from Real Betis earlier this month, with the player signing a five-year contract.

The LaLiga side have been busy in this summer’s transfer market, bringing in Cardoso, playmakers Álex Baena and Thiago Almada, and defenders Dávid Hancko, Matteo Ruggeri and Marc Pubill.

“It’s a dream come true being here, experiencing this with my family,” Cardoso said during his presentation at Atlético’s Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday. “It’s a huge club which has the same ambition as I do.

“It’s a privilege to be with all the staff and especially [Simeone]. He played in my position, and I’m ready to evolve and learn from him.”

Cardoso was born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, and also holds an Italian passport, meaning he doesn’t occupy a non-European Union slot in Simeone’s squad.

He will wear the No. 5 shirt at Atlético recently vacated by Rodrigo De Paul, who has left for Inter Miami.

“I have a lot of confidence in the project, with what the club has said to me,” Cardoso said. “We have the same hopes, to keep growing and to win trophies.

“It’s a team that has brought in a lot of players, a lot of young players, to blend with experience. We play in a lot of competitions, and we have total conviction of being able to fight for all of them.”

Atletico are looking to improve on a 2024-25 campaign which saw them finish third in LaLiga and eliminated in the Copa del Rey semifinals and the Champions League last 16.

This summer they were knocked out of the Club World Cup at the group stage, after being thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in their opening game.

Cardoso said he believed his new team — who began preseason training last week — now have a squad capable of competing with giants Madrid and Barça.

“We’re all at the same level,” he said. “Atleti are a very big team… Simeone has been showing me things from the start, I’m learning a lot. It’s going to be a special season.”

Cardoso made his senior debut for the United States in a match against Wales in 2020. He has 22 caps, winning the Concacaf Nations League in 2023 and 2024.

Cardoso had to withdraw from Mauricio Pochettino‘s Concacaf Nations League squad in March due to a muscle injury.

PSV Eindhoven Gives Ricardo Pepi Storied No. 9 Shirt Number

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Pepi may be returning to the pitch soon.

The 22-year-old Mexican American professional soccer player, a striker for PSV Eindhoven and U.S. Men’s National Team, revealed he’s “very close” to getting back in the game after suffering a knee injury during a Champions League match against Liverpool in January.

Though Pepi scored the game-winning goal in that 3-2 victory over the Premier League giants on January 29, he was forced to leave the pitch in the 76th minute.

The forward then underwent meniscus surgery in the United States following the injury, forcing him to the sidelines for the remainder of the 2024-2025 campaign and this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup with the USMNT.

Now, Pepi said he’s close to being 100% as he prepares for the upcoming campaign.

“It’s amazing. I’ve been waiting for the past five months and now I am back on the pitch with the team,” Pepi told ESPN. “I think I am really close [to being back] I think about, almost close to 100%, doing the last little steps and then I will be back.

“It’s one of those things where you are just super impatient to get back to the field, it’s super important to take the right steps because you cannot rush an injury. It’s about when your body feels ready to be back and now I am very close to being back and super excited to get this season going.”

Pepi heads into the season with a new mindset and shirt number, recently taking up PSV‘s No. 9 from departing captain Luuk de Jong. The former FC Dallas player insists a new number comes with higher expectations to perform.

“I think they have really big expectations but no one has more expectations on me than myself. It’s a good balance between helping the team out and also achieving my goals,” said Pepi.

“I think it’ll be a good year for sure, the past two seasons we’ve gotten a taste of what I can do so it’ll be interesting to see this year.”

Pepi concluded the 2024-25 campaign with 17 goals in all competitions for PSV, recording one goal fewer than former captain De Jong despite the knee injury. Beyond the Eredivisie, Pepi hopes to impress with PSV in order to be part of the USMNT roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“It’s always been a goal of mine [to reach the World Cup] so I have to focus on what I do at a club level to even get there I am sure, and I got to take care of business here at PSV,” said Pepi.

Pepi last featured for the USMNT on Nov. 18, 2024, scoring in the team’s 4-2 victory over Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal.

Pumas UNAM In Talks to Acquire Adalberto Carrasquilla from Houston Dynamo FC

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Adalberto Carrasquilla may be switching sides and countries…

Liga MX side Pumas UNAM is in discussions with MLS’ Houston Dynamo FC regarding the possible acquisition of the 26-year-old Panamanian professional footballer, per ESPN sources.

An ESPN source with direct knowledge of the talks says “there is still a ways to go” in terms of getting a deal completed.

Carrasquilla has been with Houston for parts of four seasons, having initially impressed while on loan in 2021. He has since become a mainstay in manager Ben Olsen‘s squad, and was part of the Dynamo’s successful run to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup title. Carrasquilla’s time in Houston has seen him score 11 goals in 116 league and cup appearances.

The Panama City, Panama native began his professional career in his home country with Tauro FC in 2014. He spent two seasons in Spain with second-tier side FC Cartagena.

At the international level, Carrasquilla has represented Panama 63 times, scoring twice. He was part of the squad that eliminated the U.S. at last summer’s Copa América, though his red card against the USMNT meant he only made two appearances in the tournament.

Goal.com was among the outlets to first report Pumas’ interest.

Pumas, fresh off a quarterfinal finish in the 2024 Apertura, start the 2025 Clausura on January 12 against Necaxa.

Kevin Paredes Named to U.S. Men’s National Team for 2024 Paris Games

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Kevin Paredes is headed to Paris to compete at his first-ever Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old Dominican American professional soccer player, who plays left wing-back or left winger for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the United States national team, appears on the 18-player roster for the United States men’s Olympic team (USMNT), as revealed by manager Marko Mitrović.

Paredes, the 2023 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year, is among the five forwards named to the USMNT for the 2024 Paris Games.

In August 2023, Paredes received his first call-up to the United States senior national team by head coach Gregg Berhalter, for two friendly matches against Uzbekistan and Oman. In all, he’s made three appearances.

The men’s Olympic soccer tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, but it does allow for three “overage” players. Colorado Rapids midfielder Djordje Mihailovic, FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson and Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman will fill each of those spots. The remainder of the roster comprises players born on or after Jan. 1, 2001.

This summer’s tournament in Paris marks the first time that the U.S. men have qualified for the Olympics since 2008.

The roster is also bolstered by midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann, both of whom helped lead Venezia in its successful bid to gain promotion to Italy’s Serie A last season.

“Today is a special day for us. We announced our roster and we are excited to go to the Olympic Games,” Mitrović said. “We are going there after 16 years [of not qualifying] on the men’s side, but also we are very excited that we are going to be together with our women’s team after almost two decades.”

Because the Olympics don’t qualify as an official FIFA competition, club teams aren’t required to release players for the tournament.

“We all know that it was actually a really difficult process in the last eight to 10 months, first talking to the clubs and trying to get all the players released,” said Mitrović. “Yes, there was challenges, but however we’d end up [it was] with the roster that we really believe that can represent us in the best possible way. And I feel very, very good about team that is going to the Paris.”

That explains, in part, why the vast majority of players from the USMNT who just competed in the Copa América aren’t on the roster. Robinson is the lone exception.

Those limitations presented a challenge for Mitrović in terms of constructing the roster. But of those players that were named, 15 of the 18 have made appearances for the full U.S. men’s national team, with Zimmerman, a veteran of the 2022 World Cup squad, leading the way with 42 appearances.

Ten of the players are currently contracted with Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, with the remainder playing in Europe.

The last U.S. team to participate, in 2008, was led by former USMNT stalwarts Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore. They narrowly missed out on qualifying for the medal round.

This time around, the U.S. men qualified by virtue of winning the 2022 Concacaf Under-20 Championship. From that team, only the Philadelphia Union‘s Jack McGlynn and FC Utrecht‘s Paxten Aaronson made the final Olympic squad.

All of the U.S.’s group stage games in the 16-team tournament will be played in Marseille, with the opener taking place on July 24 — two days before the opening ceremony — against the host country France.

That will be followed by matches against New Zealand on July 27, followed by the group stage finale against Guinea three days later.

If the U.S. qualifies for the medal round, it will play the quarterfinals in either Paris or Bordeaux.

The semifinals will be held in Marseille and Décines-Charpieu — just outside of Lyon. The final will be held in Paris on Aug. 9 with the bronze medal match being held in Nantes a day earlier.

The U.S. will prepare for the Games in Bordeaux at the home of Ligue 2 side Bordeaux from July 9-20 before moving to Marseille ahead of its opening match.

U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S SOCCER TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)

Goalkeepers (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; St. Charles, Missouri), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; Addison, Ill.)

Defenders (6): Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; Oldsmar, Florida), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; Arlington, Massachusetts), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, New Jersey), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; Lawrenceville, Georgia)

Midfielders (5): Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; Greensboro, North Carolina), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; Key Biscayne, Florida), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; New York), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids; Jacksonville, Florida), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; Birmingham, Alabama)

Forwards (5): Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht/NED; Medford, New Jersey), Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht/NED; Eden, Utah), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; Omaha, Nebraska), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Virginia), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo/BEL; Clifton, Virginia)

Alternates (4): Josh Atencio (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC; Bellevue, Washington), Jacob Davis (Defender, Sporting Kansas City; Rochester, Michigan), Johan Gomez (Forward, Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; Keller, Texas), John Pulskamp (Goalkeeper, Sporting Kansas City; Bakersfield, California)

Brandon Vázquez to Reportedly Join Liga MX’s C.F. Monterrey

Posted on January 3, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Brandon Vázquez s headed south of the border…

The 25-year-old Mexican American professional soccer player, a forward for the United States and FC Cincinnati, is set to join Liga MX‘s C.F. Monterrey after agreeing to contract details on Wednesday, according to ESPN MX.

Monterrey and Cincinnati reached a deal last week for the player, who’ll sign a four-year contract with the Mexican club and arrive for preseason training in the coming days.

The Athletic was the first to report the story, adding that the fee for Vazquez will be in the region of $7.5 million with another $1 million in potential add-ons and a sell-on clause.

Vazquez reportedly had interest from European clubs, as well as from Liga MX powerhouses Chivas, which attempted to sign the player in 2023.

Before eventually agreeing to a contract deal with fellow Liga MX side Monterrey, the striker told ESPN last summer that he believed Cincinnati would provide “the fastest route and best route to get to Europe” after a deal was turned down for Chivas.

Thanks to his 28 goals scored in his last two seasons, the forward earned an MLS All-Star appearance in 2022 and a Supporters’ Shield titl in 2023 with FC Cincinnati, which lost to eventual champions Columbus Crew in the semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.

He previously played for Atlanta United FC (2017-19), where he clinched an MLS Cup title in 2018 and a U.S. Open Cup title in 2019, although Vazquez had a minimal role with just three goals in just as many MLS seasons.

A native of Chula Vista, California, Vazquez was developed as a Liga MX youth academy product across the border with Club Tijuana, but only made one appearance for the senior team through a domestic cup match.

Eligible for both Mexico and the United States at the international level, Vazquez eventually made his senior debut for the USMNT in 2022 and has gone on to collect four goals across eight USMNT appearances.

Vazquez told ESPN in 2023 that “nobody” from the Mexican federation had reached out to him before he committed his future to the U.S.

Real Betis to Sign Johnny Cardoso from Brazil’s Internacional Club

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Johnny Cardoso is headed to Spain…

The 22-year-old Brazilian American soccer play and United States men’s national team midfielder has agreed to a deal with Real Betis.

The LaLiga side will pay an initial €6 million ($6.3m) to sign Cardoso from Brazilian club Internacional, according to ESPN Brasil.

As part of the deal, Internacional will earn 20% from any future transfer of the player.

Cardosa will leave Internacional at the end of the 2023 Brazilian season and sign a five-year contract with Real Betis, sources said.

Cardoso has scored two goals in 46 appearances in all competitions for Internacional this season.

He broke into Internacional’s first team in January 2020 and earlier this year extended his contract with the Porto Alegre-based club until December 2026.

Born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, Cardoso opted to represent the United States and has made nine appearances for the senior national team (USMNT).

Although he failed to earn a place in coach Gregg Berhalter‘s squad for the 2022 World Cup, he featured in both of the USMNT‘s friendlies against Germany and Ghana earlier this month.

Real Betis, coached by Manuel Pellegrini, are ninth in LaLiga with three wins and two defeats in 10 games.

PSV Eindhoven Announces Signing of Ricardo Pepi from FC Augsburg

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ricardo Pepi is switching sides…

PSV Eindhoven has announced the signing of the 20-year-old Mexican American professional soccer player and United States striker from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.

Pepi previously starred in the Netherlands while on loan at FC Groningen last season, where he scored 13 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions.

ESPN reported last month that Pepi had signed a five-year deal with PSV after the Dutch side agreed a transfer fee of €9 million ($9.8m) with Augsburg.

Philips Sport Vereniging is a Dutch sports club has played in the Eredivisie, the top tier in Dutch football, since its inception in 1956.

“I am incredibly happy and excited to be here,” Pepi said in a statement on Friday. “I believe this is the right step for my career.

“PSV is a club with great ambitions, and I share the same desire to win trophies. I am a hardworking player who is willing to put in the dirty work. I prefer to have the ball close to the goal because that’s when I can score goals.”

Pepi has 15 caps for the USMNT, during which he has scored seven goals and helped the side win last month’s CONCACAF Nations League.

“Ricardo is still very young, so this transfer is also an investment for the future,” PSV head coach Peter Bosz said.

Jesus Ferreira Becomes First U.S. Men’s National Team Player to Score Consecutive Hat Tricks in International Competition

Posted on July 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Jesus Ferreira has entered the soccer history books…

he 22-year-old Colombian soccer player and United States Men’s National Team star scored three first-half goals against Trinidad and Tobago to become the first U.S. men’s national team player to score consecutive hat tricks in international competition.

The six combined goals came in an 88-minute period at the Gold Cup, with the first three coming on Wednesday against St. Kitts and Nevis in St. Louis, as the U.S. cruised past Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 to win its group on goal difference after finishing level on points with Jamaica in Group A.

“I’m happy. I’m excited,” Ferreira said after the game. “Obviously, this is a team objective. I wouldn’t be able to score goals without my teammates putting me in situations where I can score goals.

“So, from the beginning, we knew that this game was going to be intense. We have to bring the intensity, we have to be the team that can set the tempo and I think we did that.”

Ferreira also became just the second player in USMNT history with three career hat tricks, joining the team’s joint all-time leading scorer Landon Donovan.

No other player, regardless of country, has multiple career Gold Cup hat tricks, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

“When I see his movement and his confidence in the penalty box, you can tell that the game has slowed down for him,” U.S. interim coach B.J. Callaghan said. “All of the work that he’s doing, leading our line defensively, dropping down, helping buildup play, for me he’s having a really complete tournament.”

Ferreira gave the U.S. the lead in the 14th minute from a DeJuan Jones assist and doubled the lead in the 38th minute before a penalty in stoppage time completed the hat trick.

Cade Cowell, Gianluca Busio and Brandon Vazquez all scored second-half goals for the U.S. to finish off the 6-0 victory and the team will now await the results from Group D on Tuesday to see who it will play in the quarterfinals.

Giovanni Reyna Helps Lead United States to Concacaf Nations League Crown

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Giovanni Reyna is celebrating an important assist…

Heading home the 20-year-old half-Argentine American soccer player’s corner, Chris Richards put the United States Men’s National Team early on Sunday to help the team retain its Concacaf Nations League crown.

Another first-half goal from Folarin Balogun cemented the Americans’ 2-0 victory over Canada.

Richards put the USMNT on top in the 12th minute, Balogun then doubled the advantage in the 34th minute with a deft finish from Reyna’s through ball that got past Milan Borjan in the Canada goal.

Reyna dished two assists and conducted the big victory over Canada, which earned the U.S. a second consecutive Nations League title.

With hair bleached blond and swagger oozing, Reyna pulled strings from his midfield position with remarkable ease. He spun Canadian counterparts in circles. He directed traffic with his hands, eyes and precocious footballing brain.

And he unlocked a somewhat bolted game, first with a skill that the USMNT had sorely missed in his absence. He served an out-swinging corner up to a perfect far-post location, and Richards attacked it with gusto.

Canada did what it could to get back in the game, and enjoyed a hefty 62-38 edge in possession. But despite finding star attacker Alphonso Davies in some good positions, the visitors were unable to make a dent in the U.S. lead. U.S. interim manager B.J. Callaghan went to a five-man back line late on and, despite some tense moments, the hosts were able to see out the match and hoist the Nations League trophy once again.

Alejandro Zendejas Commits to United States Men’s National Soccer Team

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro Zendejas is picking sides…

The 25-year-old Mexican soccer star, a dual national, says he is committing to the United States national team over Mexico.

Zendejas, who plays forward, made his U.S. debut in a January 25 exhibition against Serbia but remained eligible to ask FIFA for a one-time switch of affiliation to Mexico.

“I am excited for this next chapter, and earning my place with the USMNT,” Zendejas said. “Thank you to everyone for the incredible support.”

The announcement concludes a bizarre tug-of-war between the U.S. and Mexico, one in which Zendejas initially played for the U.S. at the youth level, including at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he was a teammate of Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams.

But upon joining Liga MX side Chivas in 2016, Zendejas said he would reject future U.S. call-ups and would play for Mexico.

Zendejas went on to play for El Tri at the youth level, and later the full Mexico national team in a pair of friendlies against Ecuador in 2021 and Guatemala in 2022.

But Zendejas never filed the required one-time switch with FIFA to become eligible to play for Mexico, which was necessary because he had played for the U.S. in official competition.

Mexico was ordered to forfeit five matches (three at the youth level) and fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,900) by FIFA for using Zendejas while he was affiliated with the United States.

That development saw Zendejas return to the U.S. fold, and he played in the January friendly earlier this year against Serbia.

Now he will be available to play for the U.S. in the CONCACAF Nations League games later this month.

“I am very proud of being Mexican-American. Values from both cultures have made me the person I am today,” Zendejas said in a statement Tuesday. “Making a decision on your international career is very difficult, and I believe in following your heart. Mine tells me that my future lies representing the USA.”

Zendejas was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, but was raised in El Paso, Texas. He is a product of the FC Dallas Academy, and he made his team debut with the club in 2015.

He made his MLS debut against Houston on May 1, 2015, and transferred to Chivas in June 2016, then went on loan to Zacatepec in June 2017. Zendejas transferred to Necaxa in June 2020 and to Club America in January 2022.

His aforementioned move to Chivas saw him struggle for playing time, but the loan to Zacatepec saw Zendejas find his footing in the pro game, and he eventually moved to Necaxa on a free transfer.

After scoring 11 goals in 50 league matches, Zendejas moved to Club America in January 2022. He has been a steady and at times spectacular contributor for the Aguilas, scoring 13 goals in 43 league matches.

In terms of the USMNT, Zendejas will provide additional depth at the wing positions, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea’s Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund’s Giovanni Reyna, Leeds United’s Brenden Aaronson and Lille’s Timothy Weah.

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