RICARDO PEPI

The newest player on the U.S. men's national soccer team feels like he fits right in.

Ricardo Pepi sat down with his family to discuss his big decision: whether to play for the United States or for Mexico. Pepi figures to face Mexico for the first time in the crucible of World Cup qualifying, when the region's top two teams play Friday night at Cincinnati's new TQL Stadium. All 25 players on the U.S. roster practiced Tuesday at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford, Ohio.

World Cup qualifying has become a game for the young, with stamina to withstand travel and short recovery time.

Ricardo Pepi scored twice early in the second half, becoming at 18 the youngest American with goals in consecutive World Cup qualifiers, and the United States dominated Jamaica in a 2-0 victory.

Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi scored their first international goals after a halftime change in formation, Brenden Aaronson and Sebastian Lletget added late goals and the United States revived its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Honduras.

Forward Ricardo Pepi was given his U.S. national team debut as under-pressure coach Gregg Berhalter changed five starters for Wednesday night’s World Cup qualifier at Honduras.

New England goalkeeper Matt Turner made two penalty kick saves and FC Dallas’ Ricardo Pepi scored off the underside of the crossbar to seal the MLS team’s victory over a team of Liga MX stars in the MLS All-Star Game.

Major League Soccer and Liga MX both realize they’re more powerful as partners than rivals.

Forward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Brad Guzan are on a preliminary 59-man United States roster with a mostly junior varsity appearance for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Seattle Sounders defender Shane O'Neill (27) heads in a goal against FC Dallas during the second half of an MLS playoff soccer match, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in Seattle. As in his one previous MLS goal before Tuesday night. The Sounders will face either Minnesota United or Sporting Kansas City in the West final next Monday. But O’Neill found himself unmarked in front of the Dallas goal in the 49th minute and flicked Nicolas Lodeiro’s corner kick past Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. It was the first Seattle goal by someone other than Lodeiro, Raul Ruidiaz and Jordan Morris in the past five matches.