Zendejas sets big personal goal for 2026
The América forward is on a mission to book his place in Mauricio Pochettino’s World Cup roster. So far, he has been making a strong claim for inclusion.
With Mauricio Pochettino now steering the US Men’s National Team, the competition for attacking spots is heating up—and Alejandro Zendejas is making a strong case to be part of the squad for next summer’s World Cup in North America.
Zendejas hits form
The 27-year-old winger is thriving with Club América in Mexico, and his recent form has reignited his World Cup dream. After a quiet start to the Apertura 2025 season—just one goal and one assist through late August—Zendejas earned a surprise call-up for the September FIFA window. That moment proved pivotal.
He scored a stunning goal in the USMNT’s 2–0 win over Japan, then returned to América and exploded with four goals and an assist in his next four matches. Just this past weekend, he netted a brilliant brace against Costa Rican legend Keylor Navas as América cruised past Pumas UNAM.
n an interview with Goal México, América’s No. 10 shared his ambition: “The dream is to be at the World Cup. Representing my country would be the ultimate honor. I’m going to keep working hard and hope that opportunity comes.”
A longstanding bond with Pulisic
Christian Pulisic remains the face of the USMNT and is currently leading AC Milan with standout performances early in the 2025–26 season. Zendejas has a close relationship with “Captain America,” and he opened up about their friendship.
“He’s like a brother to me,” Zendejas said. “We started together at IMG Academy when we were 14. He’s always showing me pictures of us as roommates and all the goofy stuff we used to do. He’s a killer on the field and super humble off it. It’s a privilege to share the field with him again.”
What’s next?
The USMNT’s October roster will be announced this Thursday, and fans are eager to see if Zendejas keeps his spot.
The team is set to face Ecuador on Friday, October 10, and Australia on Tuesday, October 14—both matches falling during the FIFA international break and scheduled in Eastern Standard Time.
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