Central Valley product Max Arsften will represent his country on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n
He’s one of 26 men selected for the US World Cup roster.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Fresno native Max Arfsten makes 2026 USMNT World Cup roster<\/a><\/p>\n “It’s a big deal, and especially coming where I come from, it’s a big deal,” he said.<\/p>\n Before sporting the United States crest, Max spent countless days training at Tice Park in Fresno.<\/p>\n His trainer, Milton Blanco, says Max’s superstar qualities were detected at a young age.<\/p>\n “There were times that I would try to cancel because of the rain, and he was like, ‘No, please.’ At a very young age, he was a dog. He really wanted it. I’ve coached a lot of kids, and I could tell he was special at a young age,” Blanco said.<\/p>\n Blanco is a former MLS pro and has been training Max since he was nine.<\/p>\n “There was no big academy in Fresno with like super high-level coaching and structure, but where I benefited a lot was training with Milton every day,” Arfsten said. “I really excelled technically.”<\/p>\n Throughout Max’s career, Milton was by his side, keeping his skills sharp.<\/p>\n “We both cried on the phone when that moment came,” Blanco said. “It was just an incredible moment for both of us.”<\/p>\n Max’s high school coach, Randy Prescott, remembers the same determination from a 15-year-old Arfsten, when he stepped foot on the field at San Joaquin Memorial.<\/p>\n “He puts his head down, he works hard, he takes every challenge and tackles it,” Prescott said. “I think it was his junior year, I came up to him and I just said, ‘Max, you’re going to play for our national team someday.'”<\/p>\n The dream is coming to life. Now, Max is the first Central Valley native to play on the men’s World Cup team.<\/p>\n Representing Fresno is a job he doesn’t take lightly.<\/p>\n “My main motivation is, obviously, to make my career as good as I can, but another burning desire I have is to inspire the next generation and the youth in my community, which is Fresno,” Arfsten said.<\/p>\n Back in December, Max was in Fresno hosting a youth camp. Six months later, these kids get to root for him in the World Cup.<\/p>\n “I feel like I play fearlessly,” he said. “I feel like that’s what’s got me here, so I’m not going to play safe. I’m trying to shock the world – that’s what I’m going to do.”<\/p>\n For sports updates, follow Sydney Berger on Facebook<\/a>, X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n