World Cup qualifiers between the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico carry plenty of significance for every player on both sides of the Concacaf rivalry, but few players have taken the field carrying as much emotion into the contest as Ricardo Pepi is set to face when the neighboring countries meet on Friday in Cincinnati.
Born in El Paso, Texas, on the USA-Mexico border, Pepi has stood on both sides of the Rio Grande River, cheered on both teams, and even worn both jerseys at different times in his life. It was that duality that made choosing a national team far from an easy choice for the 18-year-old, and it is that background that will fill Pepi with a unique mix of emotions when he takes the field as the USMNT starting striker in Friday’s World Cup qualifier against El Tri.
“It’s going to be special feeling,” Pepi said when asked to think about what Friday night will feel like for him, just three months after making the decision to represent the United States rather than Mexico. “It’s going to be a special feeling, having my family in the stands, having me with the U.S. jersey on. I feel like I’m gonna get some goosebumps for sure. It’s going to be that feeling where I’m going to be very motivated for the game, and I’m going to be prepared for it.”
Pepi heads into Friday’s qualifier as the USMNT’s unquestioned starter at striker, having taken full advantage when he made his first start back in September against El Salvador.
“As a national team player, you always have to prove yourself. You don’t have a spot saved for for the team. You don’t have a starting spot that’s always going to be there for you,” Pepi said. “I feel like every day you get an opportunity, you have to take the opportunity and be able to show yourself out. I feel like I’ve been doing that.”
Pepi has been a revelation for the USMNT, not only as the type of striker ideally suited to lead Gregg Berhalter’s attack, but also as an inspiration to the many Mexican-Americans who have strong ties to both Mexico and the USA.
It was those ties that made Pepi struggle with his decision to choose a national team, but the dream of being able to play in a USA-Mexico match helped motivate him, and helped him know which country he would want to represent.
“There was a talk that I had with my dad, my family in general, and I was just bringing everything to the table to them,” Pepi said. “I was talking about what it would be like walking out playing in the game versus Mexico. We’ve talked about how special it would be, and how motivating that would be for me just to be able to be called up to the national team, be able to play in that game. That made me work harder as a player just, you know, staying humble and always working hard.”
Pepi’s decision has paid off for the USMNT in qualifying, with the FC Dallas striker playing key roles in the victories against Honduras and Jamaica. As for Pepi himself, it’s safe to say he has been happy with his choice.
“I think I made the best decision,” Pepi said. “The U.S. Federation has always been there to support me. Since I was 13-14 years old they have been there supporting me. I think they have given me the opportunities to be where I am now, and the truth is I made the best decision.”
U.S. Soccer has watched some other Mexican-Americans choose to play for El Tri in recent months in Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa and LA Galaxy fullback Julian Araujo, though neither has yet to receive a call-up to Mexico’s senior national team. Pepi knows full well how personal the decision is, and while he won’t be out hitting the recruiting trail to convince Mexican-American players to follow his lead, he does have some simple advice for those who might find themselves facing the same decision.
“My advice to any player who’s in the Mexican American theme, I feel like I would say, just follow your own path, and also just make your decision with your heart,” Pepi said. “I feel like it’s very important to just be able to have a feeling a connection between you and the national team that you’re playing for, so just follow your heart.”
Pepi’s hand will be on his heart when the American national anthem is played on Friday, as he realizes a moment he has envisioned for years. There will be plenty of sentiment, and emotion, but Pepi also knows what is at stake, and how important it is for the USMNT to secure a win over its arch-rival, and doing so at home.
“It’s not just three points we’re playing for. It’s a World Cup qualifier,” Pepi said. “Obviously, we’re at home and we have to win all the games we can win at home, I think that’s very important. I also think it’s important that the majority of the fans will be Americans. In every other game, I think it’s been a majority of Mexican fans. I think that’s going to be important for us to have the fan support so we can go out and play the best game possible.
Quozzel, you make some interesting points. Pepi has had a great start to his national team career. And he’s gonna experience some ups and downs, and he has a long way to go to be regarded in the same way as Kane and what’s his face. He should probably start the Mexico game on the bench, let Tim weah run at Mexico in the first half and insert pepinho as a second half sub, ready to pounce against a tired mexico. It’s always nice to start a striker in a game like this, who is coming in, on good form. Whereas, say a striker who missed a PK on the weekend, that striker could sit on the bench and think about coming on as a sub and getting the winning or tying goal. I really agree, we are going to know a lot more about the young man after this game. He’ll probably start, along with CP.
I do truly believe it would be nice to have these options off the bench, and if we beat Mexico at home with a depleted roster it sends a message, and It means we can take a full strength roster into Azteca and come away with the W, and that has Mexico feeling uneasy
Should have brought in Sargent or Pefok.
Good luck with your premium content subscriptions, Ives. This was a great forum for soccer for many years. I wish we were back in the days when the internet was a totally free place, but I get the money angle for a lot of people.
How do you think Ives pays for the website and the writting? This “back when the internet was free.” is delusional, selfish, and not accurate.
Cool that he wants to get paid. My issue (not a concern or unhappiness so much, since I have to make my own decision) is that I don’t think the content is worth, say, my netflix subscription… or on the lower tier… my digital WSJ subscription which is about the same price.
If it was $1/mo on the low tier, I would go for it. If it was $3/4 on the top tier, I probably would splurge… but at 3 and 8… I have other content I prefer at that price point… which is sad in a world cup year. Maybe I’ll splurge after christmas to carry me through the WC… but after that, I probably turn it off again at these prices.
@Turkmenbashy – The content here is WAAAAY better than the WSJ. We all have our own opinions though 😉
Pepi’s in an interesting spot, psychologically. He’s a guy with a foot – literally – in both worlds, and he obviously has more than a passing connection with Mexican football and Mexican culture – as he should. When you watch him, though, you’re never quite sure if he’s patterning himself after Chicharito or Harry Kane, there’s elements of both guys and a grab-bag of others in his game. And at least some of these guys he once worshipped and had dreams of being are now going to regard him…well, as The Enemy. As a coach who’s had to switch clubs a couple different times and coach against people I knew and liked – while players who followed me had to do the same – I know firsthand how tough that can be. Divided loyalties are TOUGH.
Gonna be a tough game for him. I suspect we’ll know a lot more about Ricardo Pepi after this one.