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Alex Zendejas felt confident about his performance during the September international window with the U.S. men's national team, but after being omitted from the March roster for friendlies, his hopes for a World Cup summer were uncertain.
That changed on Friday at 1:00 pm ET, when a WhatsApp notification appeared on his phone during his commute back from training. Already in the app, he discovered he had been added to a new group chat alongside fellow players on the USMNT's 2026 World Cup roster.
"Not everyone gets to play in a World Cup, and for it happening on home soil, and me being here, it's all a dream come true," he told CBS Sports' Nico Cantor following Tuesday's official announcement. "Just seeing that pop up on your screen, and actually reading it and letting it sink in, it was an incredible moment."
"Not everyone gets to play in a World Cup... it's a dream come true."
Alejandro Zendejas tells @Nicocantor1 how it feels to be named in the #USMNT World Cup squad 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CZfjDKDjeB
The 28-year-old had been regarded as one of the peripheral players within the USMNT player pool, having earned just two appearances under Mauricio Pochettino's tenure, a period that has seen more than 80 players summoned to the national team.
Across the 18 matches the USMNT contested in 2025, he featured in only two, logging a total of 84 minutes. His most recent outing came in a 2–1 victory over Japan in September, during which he found the net. Evidently, that was sufficient to earn Pochettino's confidence and a place on the final World Cup squad.
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Standout Liga MX Season With Club América
While not as prominently featured as some USMNT talents competing in Europe or MLS, Zendejas has emerged as one of Liga MX's standout performers in 2025 and 2026 with Mexico City powerhouse Club América.
During América's most recent Clausura campaign — one half of the full season in Mexico's top flight — Zendejas registered six goals and four assists in just 923 minutes, establishing himself as one of the most efficient contributors in the division.
In his final two appearances before the World Cup during the Liguilla, Liga MX's playoff stage, Zendejas delivered two goals and two assists against Pumas UNAM, helping his side advance as the lower-seeded team despite a 6–6 aggregate scoreline across both legs.
His performances essentially demanded his inclusion in the USMNT squad. Additionally, Zendejas's ability to operate as a right winger, attacking midfielder, or striker added extra value to a 26-man roster that is defensively stacked but thin in midfield options.
"Alejandro brings a number of possibilities," Pochettino said Tuesday. "He can play on the wings or in the midfield pockets. He's a good communicator and has strong relationships with his teammates. He's a very interesting player tactically."
Used to Pressure
For the first time in the modern era, every USMNT player is competing in the top division of their respective country. Yet few face the intense home atmosphere and expectations that Zendejas encounters week in and week out at América.
Performing before passionate crowds each matchday, the weight of representing one of the most fervent fanbases in the Western Hemisphere rivals even the highest-stakes moments a World Cup can deliver.
That background, paired with his positional flexibility and goal-scoring consistency, made him a compelling addition to the squad, where he aims to build on the 13 USMNT caps he has accumulated since opting to represent the Stars and Stripes over his birth country of Mexico.
"A lot of people don't understand that pressure, but being at a club like Club América, it's not easy, man. Not everyone can handle it," he said of the intensity. "But there are a bunch of players on this team, and in the States, who deal with just as much pressure. It's just ... It's great to be here. I'm grateful to be here, and just not treat it as pressure, but simply enjoy the moment."
The first test under that spotlight will come in pre-World Cup friendlies against Senegal and Germany, before the USMNT opens Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.