CARSON, California — Twin-national Alejandro Zendejas mentioned he hasn’t closed the door to Mexico, regardless of accepting a primary senior name up for the United States males’s nationwide staff this month.
Talking forward a pleasant in opposition to Serbia on Wednesday at LAFC’s BMO Stadium, the Membership America winger was requested how open he’s to getting known as into official video games for the USMNT later this yr.
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“I’ll probably focus on the future once we get to that standpoint,” Zendejas mentioned throughout a information convention Tuesday.
“I’m enjoying the moment, I’m enjoying the present. I’d rather live day-by-day. Once the moment comes to choose, or the future, I’ll decide on that later.”
A consultant for U.S. Soccer confirmed that Zendejas remains to be eligible to make a one-time swap to Mexico, who had been lately punished by FIFA for fielding the participant throughout two friendlies in 2021 and 2022 with out submitting an official change of affiliation with the game’s governing physique.
On Friday, the Mexican federation was fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,900) by FIFA and compelled to retroactively forfeit two friendlies for using Zendejas.
The previous FC Dallas homegrown had beforehand performed at youth degree for each international locations however had additionally taken half in an official competitors with the U.S. within the 2015 U17 World Cup.
Discussing Zendejas’ call-up this week, interim coach Anthony Hudson expressed shock that Membership America had been prepared to let go of the participant when not obligated to take action throughout a non-FIFA window. Zendejas might be out there for choice in opposition to Serbia earlier than heading again to his membership forward of a second USMNT pleasant in opposition to Colombia on Saturday.
“I have to be honest, I didn’t think there was any chance we were gonna get him because he’s obviously playing in season right now,” Hudson mentioned.
“The fact that the club let him come in, let him come in to play against Serbia, then go back to play with them on the 28th, is amazing. A huge amount of respect to the club.”
Hudson additionally confirmed that the method to usher in Zendejas had began “a while ago” and that the now out-of-contract USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter had beforehand contacted the in-form 24-year-old.
The present U.S. roster additionally options first-ever alternative with the senior males’s nationwide staff for fellow Mexican-American dual-national Brandon Vazquez.
In contrast to Zendejas, the striker was by no means given an opportunity with El Tri, noting lately at MLS media day that there is “still no conversation” with the Mexican federation and that “nobody’s called.”