CJ dos Santos returned to San Diego FC with the perspective of a 25-year-old goalkeeper who had just experienced his country\u2019s first World Cup.<\/p>\n
An\u00edbal Godoy returned with something different: the urgency of a 36-year-old midfielder who knows this might have been his last.<\/p>\n
The two players rejoined SDFC this week after representing Cape Verde and Panama, respectively, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n
Their tournaments carried different historical weight, but both came home with the same assignment:\u00a0Turn the page.<\/p>\n
San Diego resumes Major League Soccer play July 22 at the Colorado Rapids, then returns to Snapdragon Stadium to face FC Dallas three days later. The club entered the World Cup break at 4-6-5, just below the playoff line. Through 15 matches last season, SDFC was 8-4-3.<\/p>\n
Joining Cape Verde for its World Cup debut, dos Santos came back energized after the Blue Sharks advanced from the group stage and pushed Argentina in a memorable knockout match.<\/p>\n
\u201cSurreal\u201d remains his word for the experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still kind of hard to believe that it happened, especially the way that it did,\u201d dos Santos said. \u201cThe way that we competed was something truly special.\u201d<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t play, but he walked out with the full squad before Cape Verde\u2019s opener against Spain and sang the national anthem.<\/p>\n
Usually calm on the bench, dos Santos spent nearly 45 minutes straight on his feet against Argentina, reacting to every twist.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was by far the greatest game I\u2019ve had the privilege of watching live,\u201d he said of the Blue Sharks\u2019 duel with Lionel Messi and the reigning world champion.<\/p>\n
Cape Verde, a nation of roughly 500,000, became a global favorite after pushing two of the sport\u2019s traditional powers \u2014 both still alive in the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started out the tournament with 500,000 in the country rooting for us, and then it turned out to be maybe even billions around the world,\u201d dos Santos said.<\/p>\n
He also studied veteran goalkeeper Vozinha and the preparation habits of Cape Verde\u2019s players, lessons he plans to bring back to San Diego.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives me another reason to work even harder now,\u201d he said. \u201cIt makes things seem more attainable than they were before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Godoy helped lead Panama to its first World Cup in 2018, when simply qualifying represented a national breakthrough. Eight years later, he returned as captain of a team with higher expectations. Panama arrived believing it could earn points and advance.<\/p>\n
It did neither, despite competitive stretches against England and Croatia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first World Cup, we went there to enjoy a little bit more, to know what the World Cup was,\u201d Godoy said. \u201cNow, with this generation, we expected more. The country expected more.\u201d<\/p>\n
His focus now shifts to helping San Diego correct the late-game breakdowns that defined too much of its first half. SDFC frequently controlled matches without closing them. Leads became draws. Draws became losses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to train how we can close the game,\u201d Godoy said. \u201cWe were winning so many games 1-0, 2-1, and we have to be ready to close the game better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coach Mikey Varas believes both players returned motivated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis might be my last World Cup,\u201d Varas said, describing Godoy\u2019s perspective. \u201cI\u2019m also toward the end of my playing career. Let\u2019s push it. Let\u2019s have as much success as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
New faces mean more competition<\/p>\n
San Diego used the break to add defender Ian Murphy from Colorado and midfielder Gabriel Pirani from D.C. United. Varas expects both to challenge for starting minutes once fit.<\/p>\n
Murphy, a left-footed defender with more than 100 MLS appearances, can play center back or fullback. Varas likes his size, speed, passing and willingness to engage physically.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I like so far is how aggressive he is in the duel,\u201d Varas said. \u201cHe has that defender-first mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murphy, 26, said SDFC\u2019s playing style attracted him. The Redlands native also welcomed a move closer to family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve really admired the style of play and how they build from the back,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cIt\u2019s a really brave style.\u201d<\/p>\n
Varas said Murphy could compete to start immediately against Colorado. Pirani may need more time after going more than two months without 11-on-11 match exposure.<\/p>\n
Pirani, 24, gives San Diego another option at the No. 10 position and across the attacking line. Varas described him as a talented pocket player with a final pass, one-on-one ability and intelligent pressing instincts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to immediately impact our No. 10 position and make that spot much more competitive,\u201d Varas said. \u201cCompetition breeds excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pirani said San Diego\u2019s proactive style resembles the soccer he grew up playing in Brazil.<\/p>\n
\u201cI needed that change,\u201d Pirani said through a translator. \u201cI had been at D.C. for three years, and I was ready to keep growing as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n
The break also functioned as the preseason San Diego never had. Champions Cup obligations compressed the club\u2019s winter buildup, and Varas used the past several weeks to sharpen the press, increase tempo and restore fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe we\u2019re best when we get some training time,\u201d Varas said. \u201cAnd this allows us a second moment during the season to really fine-tune some things without the pressure of the points for those three or four weeks of preseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
Window open, but Lozano unresolved<\/p>\n
SDFC sporting director Tyler Heaps does not expect Murphy and Pirani to be San Diego\u2019s final additions.<\/p>\n
The summer transfer window is open, and Heaps said the club is targeting at least two more incoming players.<\/p>\n
A left winger is the priority, preferably one who can beat defenders one-on-one and stretch opponents vertically. A fullback is also high on the list.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a number of conversations progressing,\u201d Heaps said. \u201cNow it\u2019s all about timing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The club could also make outgoing moves.<\/p>\n
The most prominent unresolved situation remains Hirving \u201cChucky\u201d Lozano, who is still not training with the team. Heaps said SDFC continues to work with Lozano and his representatives, but the next step depends heavily on the player\u2019s intentions and outside interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing has changed from our side,\u201d Heaps said. \u201cA lot of it is dependent on him and his decision, if he wants to continue to play football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heaps said clubs have continued to inquire about Lozano. San Diego hoped to resolve the matter during the previous window but could not.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re hoping it gets resolved as quickly as possible for all parties,\u201d Heaps said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CJ dos Santos returned to San Diego FC with the perspective of a 25-year-old goalkeeper who had just…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":398769,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[79150,149665,17699,11387,43956,11444,84319,158621,23827,152794,11408,139040,52558,74,1254,76,75,11389,44593],"class_list":["post-398768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-anibal-godoy","tag-cape-verde","tag-chucky-lozano","tag-cj-dos-santos","tag-colorado-rapids","tag-fc-dallas","tag-fifa-world-cup-2026","tag-gabriel-pirani","tag-hirving-lozano","tag-ian-murphy","tag-mikey-varas","tag-mls-transfer-window","tag-panama","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-fc","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-sdfc","tag-tyler-heaps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398768"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398768\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/398769"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}