The actor and now professional soccer player has joined forces with StubHub to spread the love and culture of soccer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
NEED TO KNOW
- Ted Lasso‘s Cristo Fernández has partnered with StubHub on their World Cup Cuts campaign to spread the love and culture of soccer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Fernández was a guest of StubHub at the Mexico versus South Africa World Cup opening match in Mexico City, an experience he described as “something I will never forget.”
- Fernández signed with El Paso Locomotive back in May, fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing professional soccer
Cristo Fernández still believes that "Fútbol is Life!"
The actor and professional soccer player, 35, who's best known for his role as Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso, is all-in cheering for his home country of Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After facing a career-altering injury at the age of 15, Fernández was forced to put his dream of going pro on hold. Now, he's an award-winning actor, on the USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive roster, and getting to experience his favorite sport live.
PEOPLE caught up with Fernández after he was a guest of StubHub at the Mexico vs. South Africa World Cup opening match in Mexico City: "I think this inaugural game has officially become my biggest soccer moment, where I got the most excitement, passion, and energy," he says. "I was there with my sister and my friends, and it was a dream come true."
"It was my first-ever in person attendance to a World Cup game," Fernández continues. "Watching my country win, that was just unique and something I will never forget."
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Not only was Fernández a guest of StubHub at the World Cup opener, but he's also partnering with them on their World Cup Cuts campaign—a multi-city activation highlighting the traditions and culture surrounding soccer, or more specifically, the importance of a good game-day haircut. Starting in Los Angeles on June 10 and 11 and coming to New York City on June 23 and 24, World Cup Cuts allows soccer fans to get haircuts inspired by their favorite players, show off their juggling skills, and maybe even meet Fernández himself.
In Los Angeles last week, Fernández put himself in the hot seat. "I went to the barber with StubHub, but I just got a trim. The dead ends," he says. He couldn't take too much off and risk messing with his go-to game-day hairstyle: half-up, half-down. "I just like some of the hair to be down flying," he explains. "But I cannot have it all [down], because otherwise I won't see."
Credit: Courtesy of StubHub
Separate from getting his haircut, Fernández had a lot of fun meeting fans and kicking the ball around with some professional soccer freestylers. "I love that in the barbershop they were playing World Cup moments and getting the energy up for the World Cup. It ended up being something very inspiring meeting all of the young kids."
Fernández doesn't think he'll get another haircut for several months, but he does plan on continuing to spread the love of soccer at the World Cup Cuts New York City pop-up next week.
Credit: Courtesy of StubHub
One of the many reasons Fernández is so grateful for his partnership with StubHub is because of their effort to get fans like him in the stadiums for World Cup games. "Watching live brings a different energy than watching on screen," Fernández explains. "I believe in the vibe, I believe in the energies. When you are surrounded by so many people screaming, yelling, chanting, you get goosebumps."
Luckily for Fernández, he's also had the opportunity to feel that energy from the field and not just the stands. In May, he was officially named a professional soccer player for El Paso Locomotive after training with the team for two months. He couldn't be more excited to have finally fulfilled his lifelong dream, an achievement he hopes inspires others. "I just hope it's a reminder for people that it's never too late to accomplish your dreams and you can always dream big no matter how old you are," he says.
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Looking ahead to what's next for Fernández, he's focused on training hard with his new team, talking all things soccer on his new podcast Fútbol es Vida, and keeping up with his Ted Lasso costars.
While it's not confirmed if the iconic Dani Rojas will be part of Ted Lasso season four, Fernández said in a January 2025 ScreenRant interview that he "would love to see [more] Dani."
Either way, Fernández confirmed that everyone from the show reached out in their WhatsApp group chat to congratulate him when he signed with El Paso Locomotive. "I told them to come and I will tell them again," Fernández says about the cast coming to see one of his matches. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't because of Dani Rojas and 'Fútbol is life.' If it weren't for Ted Lasso."
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