'Ted Lasso' star Cristo Fernandez makes USL debut with El Paso Locomotive
'Ted Lasso' star Cristo Fernandez made his USL Championship debut for El Paso Locomotive on Saturday, Oct. 3, coming on as a late sub in a 3-1 defeat.
Cristo Fernandez made his debut for El Paso Locomotive in the USL Championship on October 3, 2026, coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 3-1 loss to Lexington SC. The 35-year-old, widely recognized for his role as Dani Rojas in the popular Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso, joined the club in May but had not played a league match for the team until this appearance. Earlier, Fernandez had made one previous appearance for El Paso in a USL Cup match against New Mexico United on July 12.
Fernandez's journey back to professional football after a serious knee injury at 15 has been long. He began his career with his hometown team Tecos FC before turning to acting. After a stint on trial with the Chicago Fire's reserve side, he eventually signed with El Paso. Speaking after his debut, Fernandez expressed his gratitude, saying, "Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart."
He praised El Paso Locomotive FC, the club, coaches, staff, and teammates for giving him the opportunity to compete from day one.
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