Ted Lasso fan favorite Cristo Fernández swaps set for stadium in US pro soccer debut

If you thought the whole 'football is life' mantra was just a Ted Lasso catchphrase, get this – Cristó Fernández, the bloke behind Dani Rojas, has actually gone and done it. Yes, the actor famous for grinning his way through AFC Richmond matches just made his proper professional football debut in the States. And no, it's not a publicity stunt – although, given the timing, you couldn't rule it out.

Cristó Fernández: From Richmond to Real Pitch

Over the weekend, Fernández swapped TV sets for an actual stadium, running onto the pitch for El Paso Locomotive FC. If you don’t know them, they’re in the USL Championship – that’s the second division in the US football pyramid, not quite the glamour of Premier League, but hardly a pub league either.

Here's how it played out:

• Fernández spent two months on trial with El Paso Locomotive before signing a deal in May 2026.
• He finally made his debut this Saturday, subbing in at the 79th minute against New Mexico United. 5,000 people were there to see it live.
• He replaced forward Rubio Rubín, so yes, Fernández is sticking with the striker gig, not suddenly playing goalkeeper for a laugh.
• The match itself? Not quite the Hollywood ending – El Paso lost 2-0. Rojas magic wasn't enough to turn it around.

It's a bit of life imitating art, really. Before all the Ted Lasso business, Fernández actually played youth football for Tecos FC in Mexico, until he got sidelined by injury. So, he's not just winging it – this is technically a comeback. His acting career just happened to take off in between, with a fair bit of global acclaim and a stint in a Transformers film ('Rise of the Beasts', if you missed it).

Will TV Dani Rojas Return?

Ted Lasso's next season turns the focus onto a women’s team, starting 5 August 2026 on Apple TV. It’s anyone’s guess whether Dani Rojas or the rest of the Richmond crew will be regulars again, but the rumour is some of them – Fernández included – could drop by for a cameo. Don't hold your breath for much more than that, though.

'For someone whose TV character lives and breathes football, running out in front of 5,000 proper fans for your professional debut is something else.'

So, Cristó Fernández is now both a footballer who acts and an actor who plays football. Not many have that on their CV.