Alex Zendejas has watched from the sideline as his US teammates dispatched Paraguay and Australia, two wins that clinched the group with a match still to play. The 28-year-old Club America playmaker arrived at the World Cup as one of Mauricio Pochettino's more intriguing roster choices, yet he remains without a minute of tournament action.
The selection itself raised eyebrows. Zendejas was not called up for either friendly in the lead-up to the tournament, signaling he might be more depth than destination. He is a dual-national who chose to represent the United States despite being born in Mexico, where he has built his reputation as one of Liga MX's most productive players. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, he has accumulated 24 goals and 21 assists across more than 5,400 league minutes.
The form that made him an intriguing selection has done little to crack the starting XI or even the early substitute rotation. Zendejas said he does not mind. "Training hard and waiting for the opportunity, but I'm sure it'll come," he told reporters on Monday. "That's obviously a coach's decision and something I've got to respect."
His teammates have embraced him nonetheless. Zendejas was spotted at practice doing ball-control drills with Christian Pulisic, trying to keep the injured winger's spirits up as the team navigates group play. He has been a consistent presence in team photos and social media posts, frequently seen with arms around his starters after games. When the USMNT trained ahead of the Paraguay match, Club America jerseys dominated the fan sections seeking autographs, underscoring Zendejas's star power back home.
That support from Mexican fans has not gone unnoticed. "I guess you can see how diehard fans are in Mexico," Zendejas said. "I just appreciate them so much. I've been seeing their messages, all that they've been doing, and I really appreciate it. It gives me that confidence to be ready when I don't get to play."
Opportunity may present itself Thursday against Turkey. The match has become a dead-rubber after the United States clinched group advancement on head-to-head record, a new tiebreaker rule at this World Cup. Turkey has been eliminated following losses to both Australia and Paraguay. Rotation logic would ordinarily dictate that a player in Zendejas's position could finally get his chance with the stakes lower and the knockout stage looming.
For now, Zendejas remains focused on the culture Pochettino has built. "The team is having fun," he said of the atmosphere. "Training's intense, but in a good way. We're competing. I think that's been true since the beginning of this whole camp, even just 10 days together. Vibes are high, so you can only imagine a month together. It's fun being around these guys."
Author James Rodriguez: "Zendejas is too good to stay on the bench much longer, and if Pochettino doesn't give him a run against Turkey, it'll be a missed opportunity to test another weapon before things get serious."
Comments