Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez set for USL Championship fixture against Sporting Jax
The actor known for his role as Dani Rojas has signed with the USL side and made his debut in the Prinx Tires USL Cup, though his participation in the upcoming league match remains unconfirmed.
Cristo Fernandez, widely recognised for his portrayal of Dani Rojas in the Apple TV series Ted Lasso, is set to face Sporting Jax in a USL Championship match on Saturday, July 25. The fixture will take place at Southwest University Park in El Paso, Texas, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. Fernandez currently plays for El Paso Locomotive FC, marking a transition from his acting career to professional football.
The match represents a potential milestone for both the player and the opponent. For Fernandez, an appearance would constitute his first-ever league game on his home field, following an earlier debut in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. For Sporting Jax, the fixture offers a significant early platform for the squad, which played its inaugural league game in March. The outcome could potentially draw the highest level of national attention to the Jacksonville-based club to date.
Fernandez’s path to professional football began in Mexico, where he played in the youth system of Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, also known as Tecos. He transitioned to acting as a teenager after a knee injury halted his early sporting ambitions. Now 35, Fernandez returned to the sport after training with El Paso during the USL Championship preseason and signing his first professional contract on May 12. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
His official debut for El Paso occurred on July 11 in a USL Cup match against New Mexico United. The performance did not proceed as anticipated; Fernandez received a yellow card for fouling goalkeeper Kris Shakes, and El Paso conceded two late goals to lose 2-0. He did not feature in the club’s most recent league game against FC Tulsa on July 18. It remains unconfirmed whether Fernandez will be selected for the upcoming lineup against Sporting Jax.
Beyond his club commitments, Fernandez has maintained a presence in international football events. On June 28, he accompanied the officiating crew and presented the ceremonial coin for the pregame toss at the World Cup round-of-32 match between Canada and South Africa.
