Ricardo Pepi headline impossible due to missing facts
Ricardo Pepi cannot be used here because the verified facts in this prompt only support a story about Alejandro Zendejas and the United States roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Zendejas was named to that squad, extending a path that began in Ciudad Juárez and ran through El Paso, FC Dallas, Necaxa, Club América, and a March 2023 switch to the United States.
He is 28 years old and was born on 7 de febrero de 1998. He moved with his family to El Paso, Texas, when he was about six months old, joined the FC Dallas youth academy at 13, and signed with Necaxa on June 29, 2020 in a free transfer.
Zendejas and the United States
Zendejas completed his definitive switch to the United States in March 2023. Since then, he has made 13 appearances for the national team, scoring two goals and adding one assist. He also played four matches at the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, finishing that tournament with one assist as the United States ended as runner-up.
His international resume already includes a goal against Grenada on March 24, 2023 in the Concacaf Nations League 2022-23. He later scored the first goal in a 2-0 win over Japan on September 9, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio, a sharp reminder that his role has grown well beyond a one-off roster call.
Club América form
Before that World Cup selection, Zendejas built a club track record at Club América. He helped the team win three consecutive Liga MX titles: Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024 and Apertura 2024.
That run followed his two seasons with Necaxa, where he posted 11 goals and two assists after arriving on a free transfer. The move back into the United States setup puts that club output next to a national-team path shaped by both Mexico and the United States, a rare route that makes his roster spot stand out on the 2026 build-up.
World Cup 2026 roster
The main change for readers is simple: Zendejas is now on the United States roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The selection places him among the small group of players who have been called by both the United States and Mexico, and it gives him a clear place in the squad as the tournament draw gets closer.
For anyone tracking the roster race, the practical takeaway is that Zendejas is no longer fighting for recognition. He is on the list, with a path that runs from El Paso to Club América and now to the United States squad for 2026.
