The United States Men’s National Team's El Pasoans, Ricardo Pepi and Alejandro Zendejas, closed out Group D against Turkiye in a match where the US entered with considerable lineup uncertainty.

Turkiye scored in the 98th minute to win, 3-2.

The Americans had nothing at stake as they had already won Group D and were locked into a spot in the round of 32 on July 1 against a third-place team (probably Bosnia and Herzegovina).

As it turns out, Pepi and Weston McKennie were the only two players who started against Australia to also start against Turkiye.

The team’s star winger and attacking midfielder, Christian Pulisic, was optimistic for a return from the injury that led to Pepi’s start against Australia. Meanwhile, this match would seem an obvious time to get players like Zendejas their first taste of World Cup action.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has indicated that four players on a yellow card, midfielder Tyler Adams, forward Folarin Balogun, defender Chris Richards and outside back Antonee Robinson, won't play as another yellow card would rule them out of the round of 32.

Ricardo Pepi played the entire match

Pepi played the entire match and nearly scored in the first half, but a nice save by Turkiye goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir kept Pepi from scoring his first World Cup goal.

Alejandro Zendejas makes World Cup debut

El Paso's Alejandro Zendejas made his 2026 FIFA World Cup debut for the United States.

Zendejas, who plays forward, entered the match at 76:11 in a Group D match vs. Turkey on Thursday, June 25, in Inglewood, Calif.

Zendejas graced the fields of Tippin Elementary and Hornedo Middle School before he was recruited to the Dallas FC youth academy at the age of 13.

With players of questionable health or sitting on a yellow card unlikely to play in an essentially meaningless game, it was his best opportunity to see action.

Ricardo Pepi starting in consecutive games for USMNT for time since 2024

Ricardo Pepi starts back-to-back USMNT matches for the first time since the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series against Jamaica in November 2024. Pepi scored in both legs of the series, which were also his last two goals for the USA.

Alejandro Zendejas wait for World Cup debut is over

Zendejas, suiting up in his first World Cup, did not play in the first two group games against Paraguay and Australia and began the game against Turkiye on the bench.

Ricardo Pepi featured in Fortune article

Pepi's rise from humble beginnings to World Cup player was featured recently in a Fortune article by reporter Preston Fore.

The article discussed the many sacrifices Pepi's father, Daniel Pepi, and mother, Annette Pepi, made to help him achieve his dreams.

Ricardo Pepi US soccer player

The 23-year-old San Elizario native rose through the FC Dallas Academy after joining at 13 and made his senior debut at 16 in 2019. He spent three seasons as the club’s starting striker before moving to Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, followed by a loan to FC Groningen in the Netherlands.

He signed with PSV Eindhoven in 2023 for $9.8 million and helped the club win the 2023–24 Eredivisie title, scoring 16 goals in 26 appearances this season.

Pepi was left off the U.S. roster for the 2022 World Cup, making this his first appearance in the tournament. He has one assist in three recent friendlies with the national team.

Alejandro Zendejas background

The 28-year-old Zendejas grew up on the West side of El Paso, was born in Juárez and attended Hornedo Middle School when he was called up to the FC Dallas Academy as a 13-year-old in 2012.

He worked his way up to the senior club, and when he made his FC Dallas debut in 2015 at 17, he was the youngest player in MLS. He joined Guadalajara Chivas of Mexico's Liga MX in 2016 and played there for four years before joining Necaxa in 2020–2021.

He was at Club America the next year and has been there ever since.

Growing up, he played on both Mexican and American age-group national teams before making a full-time commitment to the USMNT in 2023.

In 12 matches for America this year, he had six goals and four assists. He subbed on in the friendly against Senegal on May 31, his only USMNT appearance in the recent three-match friendly window.

He worked his way up to the senior club, and when he made his FC Dallas debut in 2015 at 17, he was the youngest player in MLS. 

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at 915-546-6359; bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on Twitter.

Source: El Paso Times