A Chance to Shine
SEATTLE — Ricardo Pepi's journey to the World Cup has been a remarkable one. After being left off the 2022 World Cup roster by former U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter, Pepi received a life-changing WhatsApp notification from Mauricio Pochettino, informing him of his selection for this summer's tournament.
Pepi was driving with his father when he received the news, and his dad was overcome with emotion. "I showed it to him, and he immediately started crying a little bit," said Pepi, who has appeared in all four of the USA's World Cup games so far, starting two.
Pepi's opportunity arises due to Folarin Balogun's suspension after being shown a controversial red card in the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pochettino has several options to replace Balogun, but Pepi is a strong contender to start against Belgium.
A Player Ready to Step Up
Pepi's teammates have full confidence in him, praising his tenacity and energy. "His tenacity and energy has been unreal to be honest," Tyler Adams said. "I’ve played with Pepi quite a bit, but what he’s done against the ball has been huge for us and also for our wingers so they don’t have to do necessarily as much work."
Pepi had a chance to score against Paraguay but has otherwise struggled to make an impact in the tournament. However, his recent club form with PSV Eindhoven suggests he is capable of more. "Pepi is a killer," Pochettino said. "He's a player that has the capacity to read where the space is to the ball, arrive to the ball, and have the possibility to score and to create chances, sometimes, from nowhere."
No Stress, Just Opportunity
The Americans are not stressing about losing their leading goalscorer, as Pochettino has built a team that values collective effort over individual talent. "One man’s down, the next steps up," defender Chris Richards said. "We’re more than just one player."
Balogun, who will miss the Belgium game, is ready to support the team and Pepi if he starts. "Whatever he needs, whatever he needs," Balogun said. "I’m not the sort of person who’s going to bombard you — I’m quite a reserved person in general — but whatever he needs."
