How English-born Antonee Robinson found his international path - and became a key star for the USMNT
From the Star Wars nickname and Rubik’s Cubes to Premier League stardom, Robinson’s journey to the USMNT is anything but ordinary.
Not everyone knows that Antonee Robinson’s journey to becoming one of the most important players for the United States men’s national team did not begin in America. It actually started in England, with a football-coach father, but with some family roots in New York. And there would also be a nickname that followed him his entire life. More on that later.
Now preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, the Fulham defender has become a key piece of Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT squad (build your own here). But Robinson’s path to the international stage has always been a little different.
Why does Antonee Robinson play for the USMNT?
Born in Milton Keynes and raised in England, Robinson qualified for the United States through his father, who grew up in White Plains, New York, after Robinson’s grandmother moved there from Jamaica.
“My grandma’s originally from Jamaica but she raised my dad in White Plains, New York,” Robinson explained in USMNT 26 Stories. “That’s where my citizenship and roots really comes from.”
Although Robinson developed entirely in England’s soccer system, eventually coming through Everton’s academy before starring in the Premier League with Fulham, the American connection always remained important.
That decision has proved crucial for the USMNT, with Robinson now widely viewed as one of the team’s most dependable players heading into the World Cup.
Why is Antonee Robinson’s nickname ‘Jedi’?
Long before he became one of the fastest left backs in the Premier League, Robinson was already known as Jedi.
“My dad’s always been a football coach,” he said. “When I was about five years old and he made my first team that I played on, he said I could pick my own nickname.”
Instead of choosing a soccer legend, Robinson went in a very different direction.
“For whatever reason, I just said I want to be called Jedi.”
The nickname never disappeared. Robinson says even his parents still use it today.
“I’ve introduced myself as Jedi at school, at new clubs,” he explained. “That’s just kind of stuck with me now.”
How Robinson’s personality shaped his rise
Robinson describes himself as energetic and fearless growing up, traits that still show up in the way he plays.
He revealed he taught himself how to solve a Rubik’s Cube after watching YouTube videos as a teenager and even learned to complete one-handed solves before losing patience with speed-solving techniques.
He also taught himself how to do backflips by practicing at home, which later became his trademark goal celebration.
“I got asked not to do that again because it was pretty scary and pretty risky,” he admitted.
Now, Robinson’s focus is entirely on helping lead the United States into the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
“It’s real and I’m actually here,” he said. “I finally get to represent my country on the biggest stage.”
With expectations building around the USMNT, Robinson’s unusual path from English academy prospect to American star has become one of the squad’s most fascinating stories. And if results work out, maybe he could be lining up against the land of his birth.
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