While the United States’ immigration policy occupies part of the debate surrounding the 2026 World Cup, the team that debuts this Thursday (12) against Paraguay, in Los Angeles, brings together in its squad players children of immigrants, athletes who could defend other countries and names born outside American territory.
The match will be played at 10pm (Brasília time) at the Los Angeles Stadium, opened in 2020.
The theme gained strength in the days leading up to the opening of the tournament. On Wednesday (10), the head of human rights at the UN (United Nations), Volker Turk, asked the United States to reconsider migratory practices adopted by the Donald Trump administration during the competition.
The USA has tightened inspections and restricted access even to people involved with the World Cup.
Among the episodes reported in recent days are the revocation of the Iranian federation’s ticket quota, the impediment of the entry of a Somali referee and interrogations of members of foreign delegations.
FIFA has avoided commenting on the topic.
The composition of the American team, however, reflects trajectories linked to immigration and the international movement of people.
Among those called up are several children of immigrants. Cristian Roldan was born in the United States, but is the son of a Guatemalan immigrant and a Salvadoran mother. Ricardo Pepi was born into a Mexican family. Folarin Balogun is the son of Nigerian parents. Tim Weah has a Liberian father and a Jamaican mother. Mark McKenzie is the son of Jamaican.
Some of them could also defend other national teams. Balogun was eligible for England and Nigeria. Pepi could play for Mexico. Weah had the possibility of representing France, Liberia or Jamaica.
Other athletes on the squad also had international alternatives. Sergiño Dest was eligible for the Netherlands and the USA. Malik Tillman could choose between Germany and the USA. Alex Zendejas could defend Mexico or the USA.
There are also players born outside the country. Antonee Robinson was born in England and is of Jamaican descent. Dest was born in the Netherlands. Tillman was born in Germany. Zendejas was born in Mexico and moved to the United States as a baby.
The cases of Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter are different. Both were born in England while their American parents worked professionally in the country.
Others called up have family origins linked to different nationalities. Chris Brady has Scottish ancestry. Haji Wright has Liberian and Ghanaian origins. Tyler Adams has African-American ancestry on his biological father’s side.
On the field, the United States begins its second World Cup as host country. The team led by Mauricio Pochettino opens Group D against an opponent who returns to the tournament after 16 years.
Paraguay arrives in the USA encouraged by the recovery built under the command of Gustavo Alfaro. The team had not competed in the World Cup since 2010 and saw its classification threatened during the Qualifiers, but reacted after the change of coach.
With a game supported by defensive organization, the team beat Brazil and Argentina on the way to the World Cup and secured a place in sixth place.
The main highlight is Julio Enciso, striker from Strasbourg (France). São Paulo midfielder Damián Bobadilla is also among the best-known names in the squad.
The United States and Paraguay faced each other in November in a friendly played in Chester, Pennsylvania, with the American winning 2-1. The game was marked by widespread confusion that began after a fight for the ball following a throw-in.
The only confrontation between the two teams in World Cups took place in the inaugural edition of the tournament, in 1930. On that occasion, the United States won 3-0, with three goals from Bert Patenaude, who scored the first hat-trick in the history of World Cups.
