Story perspectives

Ted Lasso Star Cristo Fernández Joins El Paso Locomotive

5/13/2026

Summary

Cristo Fernández Signs

Cristo Fernández signed with El Paso Locomotive FC after a two-month trial.
The USL Championship club announced the signing on Tuesday, pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval.
Fernández, a 35-year-old Mexican actor known for “Ted Lasso,” played youth football with Tecos FC before a knee injury ended his career at 15.
Coach Junior González said Fernández adds attacking threat and brings passion and leadership to the locker room.

Summary

El Paso Hosts

El Paso Locomotive FC will host AV Alta FC at Southwest University Park on May 27 in a USL Cup match.
The club sits fourth in the Western Conference of the 2026 USL Championship, listing five forwards and seven midfielders on its roster.
Goalkeeper Jahmali Waite has previously played in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying matches for his national team.
El Paso also participates in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Summary

Cristo Fernández Portrays

Cristo Fernández signed a contract that makes him the first professional player to portray his own on-field role in a club-produced video.
The club markets the signing as “fiction into reality” to draw Ted Lasso fans to USL Championship matches.
He scored a goal for Chicago Fire II in a preseason friendly, showing ability despite only brief professional experience with Guayama FC after a youth stint at Tecos FC.

History

Historical Context

Major League Soccer launched in 1996 with ten clubs, creating the United States’ first nationwide professional league and drawing about 15,300 fans per game. The league’s growth—highlighted by the 2002 World Cup quarter-final run and record 61,316 spectators at the 2002 MLS Cup—set a precedent for expansion. Today, USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC follows that legacy by signing actor-player Cristo Fernández, aiming to boost attendance.

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Cristo Fernández Signs

Cristo Fernández signed with El Paso Locomotive FC after a two-month trial.
The USL Championship club announced the signing on Tuesday, pending league and U.S. Soccer Federation approval.
Fernández, a 35-year-old Mexican actor known for “Ted Lasso,” played youth football with Tecos FC before a knee injury ended his career at 15.
Coach Junior González said Fernández adds attacking threat and brings passion and leadership to the locker room.

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