MLS
Luciano Acosta wants to play for USMNT at 2026 World Cup
The FC Cincinnati forward has already begun the citizenship process and is dreaming of representing the United States national team.
His FC Cincinnati side may have fallen short in the playoffs, but Luciano Acosta dominated the 2023 MLS regular season. He finished the year as MVP as he led Cincinnati to the Supporters’ Shield, scoring 17 goals and contributing 14 assists.
The Buenos Aires-born forward moved to the United States in 2016 to join DC United and has now found a home in Ohio. He holds a green card, which allows him to be registered as a domestic player, but is now in the process of applying for American citizenship. If granted, he is targeting a USMNT call-up.
“The World Cup is far away today. But yes, if it’s possible, I will honestly be delighted to play for the United States national team,” Acosta told Argentinian publication La Nacion.
“If it’s my turn, I would be proud to be able to represent a country where my daughter Valentina was born, a country that opened its doors to me, that let me grow and gave me many things... If not, it will be my turn in the 2026 World Cup to support them for my daughter, and Argentina for my son. I will be divided, but cheer on both nations,” he added.
Acosta’s US citizenship request is already underway
Gaining US citizenship is a notoriously difficult task, even for those hoping to represent the nation at a home World Cup. Acosta first moved to the States in 2016 on a loan deal but made it permanent the following year when he signed a contract with DC United.
Guidance from US Citizenship and Immigration Services states that applicants must have been a permanent resident for at least five years to be eligible for US citizenship. Acosta revealed that things are progressing, albeit it at a slow pace.
“With the [citizenship] procedure I’m continuing in the process. Although some details are missing we are getting there, it is a long process and we are on the right path. I’ll leave it to the lawyer to take care of it, I don’t get too involved.”
“If it works out, great, I will be available for selection,” he said.
But while the lure of representing USMNT at a home World Cup is certainly a major motivation, eight years on from his first move to the States, Acosta’s bond with the nation goes beyond the soccer field.
The 29-year-old explained: “Although the national team is one of the reasons why I started this whole process, it is not the only one. Aside from the soccer, I want my family and I to have North American citizenship. But I’m trying to be relaxed, if it doesn’t happen I don’t want to get frustrated.”
Acosta was close to PSG move
After impressing at a young age with DC United there is a sense that Acosta has finally unlocked his full potential with Cincinnati. He was always viewed as a promising player in the capital and that early promise nearly saw him secure a move to French giants Paris-Saint Germain.
In 2019, when they were searching for a replacement for the recently-injured Neymar, PSG made an approach for Acosta. The player was eager to make the move but recalls how a late change of plans from the MLS side prevented him making a dream move to Europe.
“We were heading to the medical [with PSG] but suddenly the car pulled over. My representative called me and told me that I had to go back to the hotel because everything had fallen through. I remember hearing him say, ‘DC United don’t want to accept the offer.’ My world fell apart. At the hotel I started crying and had to return to Washington. I could not believe it.”
What followed was a brief stint with Mexican side Atlas, during which Acosta struggled to deliver on his potential. But a 2021 move to Cincinnati saw Acosta benefit from an entire team being built around him and he duly repaid that faith, proving himself to be one of the most dynamic and productive attacking players in the league. While the missed opportunity of Paris was clearly a tough moment Acosta is thankful for the career that he has built in the United States.
He said: “There is always that desire to play in Europe, we know what it means to play in Europe, to be able to compete in a Champions League, perhaps, or in the Europa League. Beautiful tournaments. But today I am very content here, in this club and in this country. Now I am in the place I want to be”.