USMNT duo crowned Eredivisie champions with PSV with five games to spare

PSV Eindhoven have clinched the Eredivisie title, with USMNT duo Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi adding another major honor to their growing European resumes in the Netherlands.

PSV Eindhoven secured the championship with five games still to play in the league season.

A last-minute winner from Moroccan forward Couhaib Driouech sealed a dramatic 4-3 victory over FC Utrecht on Saturday, but PSV’s title celebrations were not confirmed until Sunday. That is when nearest challengers Feyenoord were held to a goalless draw at FC Volendam.

The term “nearest challengers” is used loosely, as PSV held a 15-point lead at the top going into the weekend, meaning the title had effectively been secured for some time.

Third straight title for PSV, Dest and Pepi

The Eindhoven club have now won three successive Eredivisie championships, with their American stars playing a part in each of those title-winning campaigns.

Dest and Pepi are both part of a PSV squad that has dominated Dutch football in recent seasons while also competing in Europe.

Dest’s consistent role before injury setback

This season, fullback Dest has started all 24 league games he has been available for, missing several matches through injury. The former FC Barcelona defender was also a regular in the UEFA Champions League, featuring in six of PSV’s eight league phase matches.

However, he has not played in recent weeks due to a hamstring injury, which also ruled him out of the USMNT’s March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal.

Pepi’s impact off the bench and in rotation

Pepi, meanwhile, has made 11 league starts in the 2025-26 season, along with 10 substitute appearances. The striker has made a strong impact regardless of role, scoring 10 Eredivisie goals.

Only attacking midfield duo Ismael Saibari (14) and Guus Til (13) have netted more for PSV this season.

The FC Dallas product started just one Champions League match as PSV were eliminated, but he still delivered in key moments, scoring three goals off the bench against Napoli, Olympiacos and Atlético Madrid.

USMNT hopes ahead of 2026 World Cup

Dest and Pepi will both be aiming to feature prominently for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup.

Unlike his PSV teammate, Pepi was included in recent USMNT squads for defeats to Belgium and Portugal, although he played just 19 minutes against Belgium.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.