EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso’s Ricardo Pepi made his World Cup debut Friday during the United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Pepi is one of two El Paso natives on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster this tournament, alongside Alex Zendejas.
Advertisement
Neither Pepi nor Zendejas were in the starting lineup for Friday’s match.
Pepi came off the bench in the 72nd minute with the U.S. already in control, leading 3-0 at the time.
He nearly added a goal late, firing a shot over the crossbar in the 88th minute.
The United States went on to secure a convincing 4-1 victory to open group play.
It marks a strong start for the Americans as they begin their World Cup campaign on home soil.
Next up, the U.S. will face Australia next Friday in Seattle.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.