Why Cristian Roldan Chose to Play for the USMNT at the World Cup over 2 Other Countries
Roldan says he chose the U.S. after growing up in Pico Rivera and advancing through college and MLS, despite eligibility for Guatemala and El Salvador.
- Cristian Roldan selected the United States Men's National Team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opting for the red, white and blue despite eligibility for Guatemala and El Salvador.
- Raised in Pico Rivera, California, Roldan developed his skills on a backyard pitch built by his father, whose parents immigrated from Guatemala and El Salvador in the 1980s.
- After earning Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors in 2013 with 54 goals and 31 assists, Roldan played at the University of Washington and is entering his 12th season with the Seattle Sounders in the MLS.
- Playing in the World Cup, Roldan aims to represent his entire lineage, stating, "I say it's more important to represent all three of those countries," to motivate young players sharing his multicultural background.
- During the team's opener on June 12 in Los Angeles, Roldan will play just over 20 miles from his childhood home, with Pico Rivera Mayor Gustavo Camacho noting, "He's one of us.
22 Articles
22 Articles
NBC Chicago
Why Cristian Roldan chose to play for the USMNT at the World Cup over 2 other countries
Cristian Roldan will have a homefield advantage during the World Cup. When the U.S. midfielder steps onto the pitch for the team’s opener in Los Angeles on June 12, he’ll be playing just over 20 miles from the patch of grass where he learned to play soccer. In Pico Rivera, California – a working-class city in southeast LA situated a half-hour drive away from SoFi Stadium – stands his first home field. The pitch was the grass in the backyard of …
Telemundo Fresno
Cristian Roldán will have the advantage of playing at home during the FIFA World Cup 2026. When the American midfielder jumps to the pitch on June 12 in Los Angeles, he will be playing just over 20 miles from the garden where he learned to play football. In Pico Rivera, California – a working-class city in southwestern Los Angeles located 30 minutes from the SoFi Stadium – it’s where he stepped on his first court. It was the backyard of the hous…
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