In the wake of the Soccer Mom Scandal, which continues to be a major source of embarrassment, this was the victory US soccer desperately needed.<\/p>\n
Alejandro Zendejas was training with the men’s national team in Los Angeles this week.<\/p>\n
Zendejas, 24, is a star.<\/p>\n
If he’s not one of the best players in North America, he’s definitely one of the most famous, having played for Club America, one of Mexico’s national teams.<\/p>\n
A sly left-footed attacker who was courted by both the country he was born in and the one he grew up in, Zendejas was technically still a U.S. player under FIFA rules, but had previously played two games in Mexico. I was participating in<\/p>\n
Zendejas, who was expected to make his US senior national team debut Wednesday night against Serbia at the recently renamed BMO Stadium, suddenly became a symbol of the Mexican federation’s dysfunction.<\/p>\n
He then opened his mouth, revealing that his participation in the January camp in the United States did not necessarily indicate his long-term plans.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the team’s training session on Tuesday, Zendejas was less committed about his international future beyond the next game.<\/p>\n
“I’m taking advantage of this week’s opportunity and enjoying the moment,” he said. “I’m concentrating on tomorrow’s game.”<\/p>\n
He repeated the phrase over and over in English and Spanish.<\/p>\n
He didn’t say his future was in Mexico, but he didn’t say it wasn’t either.<\/p>\n
And who can blame him?<\/p>\n
Mexico is out of the World Cup group stage and its federation is in turmoil, but the US team has its own problems.<\/p>\n
Like the Mexicans, the Americans have no coach and no direction.<\/p>\n
How can Zendejas commit its future to a program that doesn’t know where it’s going?<\/p>\n
Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, Zendejas is considered an American player by FIFA as he represented his country in the 2015 U-17 World Cup.<\/p>\n
Zendejas turned professional with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, but was established in Mexico’s Liga MX. He played for Mexico at U-23 and senior level, but Eltri was confiscated and fined because he played without submitting the required paperwork.<\/p>\n
![\"USA's](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/ba6497c\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3051x2441+0+0\/resize\/320x256!\/format\/webp\/quality\/80\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2F82%2F4dc7e3cb473dbc8631830a0040f9%2Fmexico-soccer-23255.jpg)
<\/source><\/picture>\nUSA’s Alejandro Zendejas (17) and Chivas’ Sebastian Perez battle for the ball during a Liga MX match in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 12, 2022.<\/p>\n
(Bruno Gonzalez\/Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Ironically, he never applied for a one-time change of affiliation to play for Mexico, so he is eligible to change affiliation unless he plays in an official match. Hmm.<\/p>\n
Asked if he would be open to play in the Nations League and Gold Cup games later this year that will permanently tie him to America, Zendejas replied: Hopefully I get that win and on a personal level, I hope it’s a great game for me.<\/p>\n
Again, who can blame him?<\/p>\n
Interim coach Anthony Hudson said recruitment for Zendejas was initiated by Greg Berhalter, who coached the United States at the World Cup last year.<\/p>\n
But his decision to sit Giovanni Reyna down resulted in a Game of Thrones-like feud with Reyna’s parents that destroyed the program, so Burholter probably won’t be returning as coach.<\/p>\n
And even if Verhalter is back, would Zendejas still want to play for the same Bozo that benched world-class talent in Reyna in favor of brilliant worker bees like Tim Ware?<\/p>\n
What if the US miraculously gets Jose Mourinho or some other foreign pragmatist who values \u200b\u200bdefensive work-rate over attacker creativity?<\/p>\n
As it stands, the diminutive Zendejas are already competing for playing time against a group of wingers including Reyna, Ware and former youth varsity team roommate Christian Pulisic.<\/p>\n
Let’s say Zendejas beat Reyna to finish 11th on the team. Who says Reyna’s parents don’t try to thwart him like Berhalter did?<\/p>\n
Zendejas can also take a wait-and-see approach in this case. He has only one career. He should know where he is taking his next step.<\/p>\n
This alone is an indictment to American football culture, as Zendejas’ decision should be as easy as tapping in from inside the 6-yard box.<\/p>\n
The US-Mexico rivalry is cyclical, with one team dominating one period and the other the next. Americans are now on top. they have better talent.<\/p>\n
That advantage has been eroded by the events of the last few months.<\/p>\n
Soccer in Mexico may be a brisk trash fire, but the United States has to show that its self-destructive tendencies don’t land in the same place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n