From AFC Richmond to El Paso: ‘Ted Lasso’ Star Cristo Fernández Signs Pro Soccer Contract with Locomotive FC

In a move that blurs the line between fiction and reality, Cristo Fernández—the actor who brought the irrepressibly optimistic Dani Rojas to life on Apple TV’s hit series Ted Lasso—has officially traded the pitch at Nelson Road for the turf of Southwest University Park. On Tuesday, El Paso Locomotive FC of the USL Championship announced that the 35-year-old had signed a contract to join the club, turning a lifelong dream of professional soccer into a tangible second act.

For fans of the show, this is more than a publicity stunt. It is the culmination of a story arc that began long before Fernández ever stepped in front of a camera. “Soccer was literally my life,” Fernández told NBC News in 2021. Now, he is living that life—this time, in the high desert of West Texas.

From Tecos to Ted Lasso: The Unlikely Journey of a Two-Sport Talent

To understand the weight of this signing, you have to rewind to Fernández’s youth in Guadalajara, Mexico. Long before he was shouting “Football is life!” on a global streaming platform, he was a promising academy prospect for Tecos Fútbol Club. His grandmother and mother saw it first: “Cristóbal only speaks, breathes, talks, dreams, everything fútbol.”

But a devastating knee injury shattered his path to a professional career. That injury, however, did not kill his love for the game—it simply rerouted his ambition. Fernández pivoted to acting, eventually landing the role of a lifetime as the cheerful, goal-hungry Dani Rojas on Ted Lasso. Yet, even as he filmed scenes with Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham, he kept his cleats laced. He trained relentlessly, staying match-fit while delivering lines in two languages.

Now, at age 35, he is getting a second chance. “Cristo is a great addition to our roster, adding another attacking threat to our forward line,” said Locomotive head coach Junior Gonzalez. “His passion for the game and leadership qualities for our locker room allow us to continue growing the positive culture we strive for as a club.”

This is not a ceremonial signing. Fernández has earned it.

The Trial Period: More Than a Hollywood Gimmick

When El Paso Locomotive FC first announced that Fernández would be training with the team in January, skeptics were quick to label it a marketing play. But the actor—who has been on trial with the club for the past two months—did not treat it as a cameo. He participated in a full preseason match, logging minutes and showing the technical base that made him a prospect in Mexico’s youth system.

And he wasn’t just working out in El Paso. The Chicago Fire confirmed that Fernández had also been on trial with their MLS Next Pro affiliate, the Chicago Fire II, over the winter. That level of commitment—flying between USL and MLS camps, grinding through two-a-days at age 35—signals that this is not a vanity project. It is a genuine attempt to compete.

“He’s not here for a photo op,” one USL scout told me on condition of anonymity. “He moves well off the ball, he understands spacing, and he has a striker’s instinct. Could he start every game? That’s a different question. But he can absolutely contribute in a rotational role.”

For El Paso, the signing adds depth to a forward line that needs versatility. The Locomotive finished mid-table in the Western Conference last season, struggling to convert chances in tight matches. Fernández, who can play as a central striker or a withdrawn forward, brings a high soccer IQ and a relentless work rate—traits that coach Gonzalez values above raw athleticism.

Expert Analysis: What Fernández Brings to the USL Championship

Let’s break down the on-field product. Fernández is not a 6-foot-3 target man. At 5-foot-10, he relies on quick footwork, intelligent movement, and a nose for goal. During his trial, he demonstrated a knack for finding space between center backs and finishing with both feet. His time in the Tecos academy instilled a technical foundation that is rare for a player his age who has spent years away from competitive soccer.

However, there are legitimate questions about match fitness and pace. The USL Championship is a physically demanding league, especially for a player who has not played organized soccer at a professional level since his early 20s. The Locomotive’s medical staff will need to manage his load carefully. But Fernández has already shown resilience: he spent two months in preseason training without injury, a testament to his dedication to conditioning.

From a tactical perspective, Gonzalez can deploy him in several ways:

• As a second striker: Paired with a physical target man, Fernández can roam the channels and create chaos.
• As a late-game substitute: His energy and creativity could be a weapon against tired defenses in the 70th minute.
• As a locker room catalyst: This is where the Ted Lasso connection becomes a genuine asset. Fernández’s infectious positivity is not an act—it is his personality. In a long USL season, morale matters.

“I’ve seen him lift guys after tough drills,” said a Locomotive source. “He’s the same guy you see on the show. That’s not a character. That’s Cristo.”

Predictions: How This Story Unfolds in 2025

So, what can we expect from the 2025 USL Championship season? Here are three bold predictions:

1. Fernández scores his first professional goal in front of a sellout crowd.
El Paso’s fan base is passionate, and the “Dani Rojas” factor will pack Southwest University Park. When he nets his first goal—likely a scrappy tap-in or a composed finish in the box—the celebration will go viral. Expect a “Football is life!” chant to echo through the stadium.

2. He will play between 400 and 800 minutes total.
Realistically, Fernández is not a 2,000-minute-a-season player. But as a depth piece and a spot starter, he can log meaningful minutes. If he stays healthy, expect 10-15 appearances off the bench and 3-5 starts, primarily in USL Cup matches or against lower-table opponents.

3. The signing will inspire a new wave of USL interest.
This is the bigger story. Fernández’s presence will draw eyes to the USL from Ted Lasso fans who have never watched a second-division soccer match. It is a marketing goldmine that could translate into increased attendance, merchandise sales, and even streaming viewership for El Paso’s matches. Other USL clubs will take note.

Conclusion: A Script No Writer Could Have Imagined

There is something deeply poetic about Cristo Fernández’s journey. A knee injury took away his childhood dream of playing professional soccer. So he became an actor, and in playing a soccer player on television, he reignited that dream. Now, at 35—an age when most players are winding down—he is winding up.

El Paso Locomotive FC is not signing a celebrity. They are signing a man who spent two months on trial, who trained with an MLS reserve team, and who refused to let his story end with a torn ligament. As Fernandez himself might say, “Football is life.” And for the first time in over a decade, that life is real.

Whether he scores five goals or zero, this signing is a win for the USL, for the city of El Paso, and for everyone who ever had a dream that refused to die. The cameras will be rolling. The fans will be roaring. And somewhere in West Texas, a former Tecos kid is about to prove that second acts are not just for Hollywood.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.