Sports
Contributor: U.S.-born Brian Gutiérrez and Obed Vargas signal a new era for Mexico’s national team
After the total failure that was Mexico’s participation in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the group stage, the future looked very dire for “El Tri.” By 2024, the situation had worsened after another international failure at the Copa América. The 2026 World Cup co-hosts had even more pressure now. In a crisis-control move, the Mexico Football Federation opted to bring back its proven problem solver, head coach “El Vasco” Javier Aguirre, for a third stint.
In a short time, Aguirre was able to shape “El Tri” into a competitive squad by breaking from his usual approach. The man who shockingly demoted then-24-year-old goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa in favor of a more experienced player prior to the 2010 World Cup was now relying on upstarts.
Aguirre’s 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup features 14 debutants on soccer’s grandest stage.The crown jewel of this nucleus is undoubtedly 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora, but there are also two American-born players who are also expected to become pillars of the team: Brian Gutiérrez, from Berwyn, Ill., and Obed Vargas, from Anchorage, Alaska.
Under Article 30, Section A, Part II of the Mexican Constitution, individuals born abroad are considered Mexican by birth if they are children of Mexican parents — a Mexican mother or a Mexican father. Gutiérrez’s parents are from San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco, while Vargas’ father is a native of Morelia, Michoacán, and his mother was raised in Mexico City.
“Obviously, I’m taking it day by day and just trying to enjoy the experience,” said Gutiérrez about the opportunity to play for Mexico at the World Cup. “I talk about it a lot with my friends and family. Honestly, it’s amazing… I’m just living in the moment.”
Gutiérrez, 22, and Vargas, 20, are not the first players born in the United States to represent Mexico in a World Cup. That distinction belongs to Miguel Ponce and Isaac Brizuela, who were both born in California and part of the 2014 squad. But the comparisons largely end there.
Unlike Ponce and Brizuela, Gutiérrez and Vargas were fully raised in the United States and went through their entire soccer development on American fields. Ponce and Brizuela were also fringe contributors; they didn’t see any minutes in Brazil 2014.
Meanwhile, Gutiérrez and Vargas are already getting important playing time with the national team. Both were part of Mexico’s historic group stage where, for the first time in history, the team won all three of its games. Gutiérrez was a starter against South Africa and South Korea, while Vargas came off the bench to help preserve the 1-0 lead over South Korea.
Their protagonism in Aguirre’s squad could also signal another new era for the Mexican national team — one in which Mexican American players are just as vital as those born on Mexican soil.
“Brian and Obed are two young players of Mexican heritage. They are very talented players who have made great progress recently. We called them up, and they convinced us with their performances,” said Aguirre prior to the tournament. “I believe there are many Mexican American players who, in the future, will continue strengthening Mexico’s youth national teams, including the women’s side. That makes me happy because they were not born in Mexico, yet they have a deep love for the country and have shown it by choosing to represent us.”
Both Gutiérrez and Vargas are also products of MLS academies.
Gutiérrez, a skillful and dynamic attacking midfielder, rose through the ranks of Chicago Fire’s youth system and made his senior debut in 2020. In December, he moved to storied Liga MX club Chivas, his childhood team. It took time for Gutiérrez to establish himself as a starter for Gabriel Milito’s squad, but his game-changing talent was there — enough to catch the eye of “El Vasco.”
Vargas, a box-to-box midfielder, developed through the Seattle Sounders youth system and debuted with the senior team in 2021. A strong showing against Atlético de Madrid in the 2025 Club World Cup led to the Spanish club adding him to its roster this February. This move also put him in Aguirre’s World Cup plans.
“Playing for Mexico at the World Cup is a dream come true for all Mexican American kids,” said Vargas. “Obviously, with the World Cup being in both countries, it’s special to me. I have connections and ties to both countries.”
For so long, it was said Mexican American players just could not earn a place with Mexico at the international level. Players like Édgar Castillo and Alejandro Zendejas — born in Juárez but raised in El Paso — represented “El Tri” up to the U-23 level, then switched and played for the U.S. Jonathan González (Santa Rosa, Calif.) represented the U.S. at youth level and then chose Mexico, but after a few call-ups he fell out of the picture.
But in this World Cup cycle, Mexican American players have stood out more than ever.
Aguirre’s preliminary 55-man World Cup roster included six Mexican American players. Richard Ledezma (Phoenix), Efraín Álvarez (Los Angeles), Jorge Ruvalcaba (Rialto), and Julián Araujo (Lompoc, Calif.) ultimately missed the final cut. Of the four, Ledezma and Araujo came closest to making the team, but for different reasons fell short.
Vargas believes it was only a matter of time before the talent broke through.
“I think Mexican American players have always been there. The quality has always been there. Obviously, the growing passion for the sport in the United States has helped fuel the development of many of those players,” said Vargas. “I think it’s amazing to see so many Mexican Americans doing well with the national teams of both the United States and Mexico. Dreams come true for kids, and that continues to inspire the next generation of Mexican American players coming through in the U.S.”
Gutiérrez and Vargas, like many standout Mexican American players over the last 15 years, began their paths with “El Tri” amid a long-standing tug-of-war between their birth country and the country of their parents. The Mexico men’s national team and their U.S. counterparts have increasingly become rivals, both on the field and in recruiting dual-national players.
For Mexico, the United States now represents a prime area for scouting outside its territory. According to the Migration Policy Institute’s (MPI) tabulation of data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey, approximately 38.8 million U.S. residents were either born in Mexico or reported Mexican ancestry or origin.
Not only do Mexican American players expand the national team’s talent pool, but as some argue, they also bring a different element that can be a major advantage for the program.
Former Mexico youth coach and current Guatemala coach Luis Fernando Tena recently raised eyebrows in an interview with ESPN Deportes by stating that Mexican American players possess qualities that can set them apart from homegrown Mexican players.
“They have an American mindset. They grew up with that mentality and with good nutrition, and that makes them different,” said Tena, who led Mexico’s U-23 team to the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. “They are more disciplined, work harder, and are more focused — something that we sometimes don’t always find in many Mexican-born players.”
Gutiérrez and Vargas started their international careers representing Team USA at youth level, but FIFA’s one-time switch rule allowed them to change allegiances.
Vargas said he chose Mexico because he simply “followed his heart.” His love for his heritage and the Mexican national team outweighed everything else.
As for Gutiérrez, he was motivated to make the change because his time at Chivas convinced him. In Liga MX, the club has been at the forefront of tapping into the Mexican diaspora in the U.S. Their long-standing “Mexicans-only” policy limits the club’s talent pool when acquiring players. Because of this, Mexican American players are becoming a vital lifeline for Chivas.
“As soon as I arrived at Chivas, I knew my decision was to represent Mexico because we play with 100% Mexicans, that’s just how it is,” said Gutiérrez.
Opportunity may have also played a major role in Gutiérrez’s and Vargas’s “one-time switch” decisions. Both had no clear pathway into the U.S. senior squad, while Mexico offered a clearer route — and a chance at the 2026 World Cup.
In a 2023 interview, El Paso native Ricardo Pepi, who made the one-time switch from Mexico to the U.S., said on the Men in Blazers podcast that his decision was influenced by the fact that the U.S. had him in mind for the senior squad, while “El Tri” did not.
“It was just easy to decide. The U.S. wanted me to join them in World Cup qualifiers, which is a big deal,” said Pepi. “It’s a unique opportunity, being at a World Cup, and something I didn’t even have to think about because Mexico wanted me for the U-20s and eventually the first team. I was like, ‘I’m past that.’”
Although Gutiérrez and Vargas chose Mexico and embrace their parents’ culture, their duality is still present. They carry their communities with them.
A year ago, when aggressive ICE raids and mass deportations swept through many immigrant communities in the United States, particularly Mexican immigrant communities, a visibly frustrated Aguirre refused to comment on the situation, saying he was “apolitical” and not “a spokesperson” for the Mexican people.
This was not the case with Gutiérrez and Vargas, who both addressed questions about the ICE raids during Mexico’s World Cup media day in Pasadena, where they switched seamlessly between English and Spanish.
Gutiérrez answered without hesitation. His hometown of Berwyn is a suburb of Chicago, a city that in September was targeted by “Operation Midway Blitz,” a major federal immigration enforcement surge. According to the Chicago Tribune, between 3,800 and 4,500 individuals were detained or arrested during the operation.
Gutiérrez’s words reflected the strain felt throughout his community.
“It’s been a hard, hard year for us,” Gutiérrez said. “It’s affected a lot of families, and I take playing for Mexico with great pride and hope to show it on the field.”
It’s no secret that a large part of Mexico’s fanbase is composed of Mexican Americans. They are the ones who help fill massive NFL stadiums for “El Tri’s” annual MexTour, a slate of mostly inconsequential friendly matches that are often seen as a cash grab for the Mexican Football Federation. The presence of standout players like Gutiérrez and Vargas is a major development for this segment of the fanbase.
By featuring players with shared cultural experiences and struggles, the connection between the Mexican diaspora in the U.S. and “El Tri” can only strengthen. The ties now go beyond simply sharing the same roots; Mexican Americans can now gravitate toward a team with players who represent their dual identity. And this can bring a true sense of belonging.
Sports
Vikings fear worst as Jamal Adams, former All-Pro safety, suffers knee injury in preseason game: ‘Not good’
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Jamal Adams, the former first-round pick of the New York Jets, was back at MetLife Stadium on Sunday battling for a roster spot with the Minnesota Vikings.
But just two weeks after signing with his new club, it’s not looking great, as he was carted off in the first half of the Vikings’ 13-10 win due to a knee injury.
Adams was covering New York Giants receiver Calvin Austin III in the red zone when he had to start sprinting across the field to handle his route. But Adams fell down to the turf with a non-contact injury, it seemed, and he didn’t get up quickly.
Jamal Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on Dec. 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
A cart eventually came out onto the turf and brought Adams back to the Vikings’ locker room.
During an in-game interview, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about Adams’ knee injury, and the veteran sideline leader said it was “not good” after the first look at it.
“In such a short amount of time, Jamal has done such an unbelievable job coming here,” O’Connell said. “You feel his passion every single day. Certainly felt it spending a few moments with him before they took him in.
NFL PLAYERS MAY COLLECTIVELY BARGAIN FOR GRASS FIELDS IN FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS BUT IT WOULD COME AT A COST
“You’re just crushed for him, the role he was kind of paving for himself, and then just having a personality, experience, toughness that he brought in such a short amount of time. We’re going to miss him.”
The fact O’Connell is already saying the team is going to miss him says all you need to know about the severity of the injury for Adams.
It’s a shame considering he was having a great game up to that point, making a key stop on a run play by the Giants and flying around at his linebacker position.
Jamal Adams of the Minnesota Vikings reacts during training camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minn., on Aug. 1, 2026. (Getty Images)
Adams joined the Vikings just before training camp got underway on July 28, where he knew he’d have to battle for a roster spot for the upcoming season.
Heading into his 10th NFL season, Adams has known this feeling, which wasn’t there earlier in his career.
On that MetLife Stadium turf, Adams became a staple for the Jets after they took him sixth overall out of LSU in 2017. He made two Pro Bowls in 2018 and 2019, including a First Team All-Pro selection in the latter season after totaling 6.5 sacks, 75 tackles, two forced fumbles, one pick-six and seven passes defended across 14 games.
But after that season, the Jets traded Adams to the Seattle Seahawks, where he would spend his next four seasons. In 2024, he split time with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions before finding a home with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jamal Adams enters the field during player introductions before an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 7, 2025. (Getty Images)
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Adams transitioned from safety to linebacker last season, and the Vikings were planning to do the same with the 30-year-old before this injury. Adams, though, views himself as a defensive Swiss Army knife, having the ability to be versatile if need be.
Now, Adams will hope that further testing can be graceful in terms of recovery despite non-contact knee injuries usually meaning the worst for athletes.
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THURSDAY’S RESULTS
Southern Section
Agoura 38, Buena 0
Canyon Country Canyon 75, PACS 0
Castaic 19, Burbank Burroughs 0
Channel Islands 26, Rio Mesa 13
Corona Centennial 6, El Dorado 0
Corona Santiago 35, Great Oak 14
Crean Lutheran 7, Capistrano Valley 6
Dos Pueblos 28, Santa Ynez 6
El Toro 26, Dana Hills 0
Fillmore 45, Del Sol 0
Gahr 54, Dominguez 6
Hacienda Heights Wilson 7, Garey 0
Hart 12, Royal 6
Hemet 18, Murrieta Valley 7
Indio 21, Canyon Springs 0
Katella 19, Norwalk 0
Lancaster 32, Rosamond 6
Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 51, Loara 7
Nogales 26, Mountain View 12
Oxnard Pacifica 19, Newbury Park 18
Paramount 14, Fairmont Prep 7
Redondo Union 27, Santa Monica 7
Saddleback 8, Century 6
Santa Barbara 38, Hueneme 12
Saugus 26, St. Bonaventure 0
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 22, Oaks Christian 0
Sonora 14, Portola 12
Thousand Oaks 27, Long Beach Wilson 20
Ventura 27, Santa Paula 0
Westlake 61, Simi Valley 12
Intersectional
Bakersfield Christian 19, Highland 6
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
City Section
Franklin 33, Garfield 13
Hollywood 39, West Adams 0
Los Ángeles Marshall 29, Monroe 0
Los Ángeles Marshall 7, Sotomayor 0
Sotomayor 19, Monroe 0
Southern Section
Agoura 12, Cypress 7
Azusa 20, Northview 19
Beckman 32, Mira Costa 13
Bonita 13, La Serna 6
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 26, Whitney 7
Compton 32, Huntington Park 0
Cypress 13, Warren 12
Dos Pueblos 28, Classical Academy 12
Dos Pueblos 13, Redondo Union 7
Edison 13, Long Beach Poly 0
El Rancho 45, El Monte 0
Fountain Valley 26, Capistrano Valley 6
Highland 50, Rosamond 0
Huntington Beach 7, Classical Academy 0
Huntington Beach 18, Redondo Union 0
JSerra 24, Camarillo 0
JSerra 19, Westlake 6
Lakewood St. Joseph 40, Corona 6
Long Beach Wilson 7, Santa Ana Valley 0
Los Altos 13, San Gabriel 0
Montebello 18, Bell Gardens 0
Newport Harbor 25, Aliso Niguel 0
Newport Harbor 7, Oxnard 0
Northwood 6, Rosary 0
Orange Lutheran 16, Oxnard 6
Orange Lutheran 27, Aliso Niguel 0
Palos Verdes 43, Desert Hot Springs 0
Shadow Hills 25. Cathedral City 0
Sierra Canyon 25, Long Beach Poly 13
St. Margaret’s 13, Agoura 6
St. Margaret’s 21, Warren 20
Ventura 28, Fullerton 0
Villa Park 13, Anaheim Canyon 0
Western Christian 20, Tesoro 6
Woodbridge 40, Wiseburn-Da Vinci 0
Woodbridge 36, Ventura 0
Intersectional
Beckman 21, Narbonne 0
Bonita Vista 20, Sierra Canyon 12
Compton 32, Huntington Park 0
Edison 13, Bonita Vista 0
Esperanza 18, Panorama 13
Mira Costa 13, Mira Mesa 12
Mira Mesa 6, Narbonne 0
Tesoro 13, Panorama 6
Torrey Pines 12, Westlake 7
Torrey Pines 7, Camarillo 6
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Southern Section
Anaheim Canyon 39, Los Osos 0
Anaheim Canyon 35, South El Monte 7
Baldwin Park 21, Gabrielino 13
Beaumont 38, Long Beach Wilson 0
Beckman 26, Tesoro 24
Bishop Amat 7, La Serna 6
Bonita 34, Don Lugo 0
Bonita 47, Covina 6
Bonita 25, Chino Hills 0
Cerritos 52, Keppel 0
Chaminade 7, San Marcos 0
Chaminade 20, West Ranch 0
Chaparral 20, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 0
Chino Hills 26, Covina 6
Colony 19, Corona 13
Corona Centennial 40, Kaiser 6
Corona del Mar 13, Trabuco Hills 12
Corona del Mar 19, Bishop Amat 6
Covina 35, Don Lugo 6
Don Lugo 6, Chino Hills 6
Glendora 61, Arroyo 0
Great Oak 26, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 0
Irvine University 18, Crean Lutheran 0
JSerra 27, Orange Lutheran 6
JSerra 28, Dos Pueblos 0
JSerra 23, Newport Harbor 6
Linfield Christian 32, Temecula Valley 6
La Serna 20, Cajon 6
Los Osos 24, Colton 2
Mira Costa 13, Western Christian 9
Newport Harbor 13, Edison 0
Newport Harbor 14, Huntington Beach 0
Norco 21, Patriot 6
Norco 19, Murrieta Mesa 12
Oxnard 20, Long Beach Poly 7
Oxnard Pacifica 19, West Ranch 6
Oxnard Pacifica 6, Chaminade 0
Quartz Hill 0, Valencia 0
Redlands 31, Banning 0
Riverside King 41, San Jacinto 0
Riverside King 49, Canyon Springs 0
Riverside King 29, Patriot 7
San Marcos 21, Oxnard Pacifica 7
San Marcos 32, West Ranch 0
St. Lucy’s 16, Alhambra 6
Temecula Valley 21, Temecula Prep 0
Tesoro 20, St. Margaret’s 6
Upland 19, El Dorado 12
Upland 12, Hart 0
Ventura 25, St. Margaret’s 15
VIsta Murrieta 62, San Jacinto 0
Vista Murrieta 32, Canyon Springs 0
Warren 19, Esperanza 6
Warren 32, Fullerton 6
Western Christian 12, Agoura 6
Westlake 20, Oxnard 13
Westlake 20, Redondo Union 14
Woodbridge 18, Agoura 8
Intersectional
Bonita Vista 13, Dos Pueblos 6
Downey 44, San Pedro 0
Edison 19, Torrey Pines 0
Esperanza 14, Narbonne 6
Huntington Beach 25, Torrey Pines 7
Mira Mesa 14, Panorama 7
Mira Mesa 20, Cypress 14
Narbonne 12, Fullerton 0
Orange Lutheran 6, Bonita Vista 0
Panorama 27, Wiseburn-Da Vinci 0
Warren 20, Mira Mesa 0
Sports
JJ McCarthy considered ‘unpredictable’ as Vikings hand starting QB role to Kyler Murray: report
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It may not have come as a surprise to people that Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell quickly named Kyler Murray the starting quarterback of his offense over J.J. McCarthy, the team’s 2024 first-round selection.
But a recent report indicates that it’s more than just what happened on the training camp practice field between Murray and McCarthy that may have factored into such a quick decision.
It was last summer when some within the Vikings organization were concerned that McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie season due to a knee injury and struggled with consistency in 2025, was “unpredictable,” according to CBS Sports.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass during a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 15, 2024. (Getty Images)
In fact, some believed that Max Brosmer, who was an undrafted free agent added to the quarterbacks room, should’ve been the one under center for Minnesota in Week 1.
That wasn’t the case, but the Vikings made it quite known after watching McCarthy complete 57.6% of his passes and throw 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions across 10 games – Minnesota went 6-4 over that span – they were in the quarterback market this offseason.
KYLER MURRAY AND JJ MCCARTHY GIVE WILDLY DIFFERENT ANSWERS ABOUT THEIR VIKINGS QB ROOM DYNAMIC
“A franchise quarterback is supposed to be the stability piece of a franchise, like you know what you’re getting every day. But with J.J., you weren’t sure which version you were going to get,” the source said to the outlet. “I think he’s just still so young and may not have understood yet what that position fully entails and things like the consistency and day-to-day commitment.”
The Vikings landed Murray, the former No. 1 overall pick of the Arizona Cardinals, who moved on from him after a roller-coaster tenure in the desert.
And before they faced the New York Giants for their first preseason bout of the 2026 NFL season, the Vikings came right out and named Murray their starter.
So, what exactly does McCarthy’s future hold as he’s in Year 3 and serving as a backup now? One defensive coach told CBS Sports that “he is talented,” though he needs to “learn how to manage a game and not do too much and not do more than what’s required of him.” If that happens, perhaps the Vikings, or a different team, can trust him in a starting role.
J.J. McCarthy of the Minnesota Vikings participates in a drill during training camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minn., on Aug. 1, 2026. (Getty Images)
But that’s the thing: is it too soon to discuss McCarthy playing for a different team already? The Vikings do have a new GM, Nolan Teasley, who is not tied to McCarthy’s selection. That was Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whom the Vikings fired this past offseason.
There’s also the injury factor that hasn’t allowed McCarthy to really get going after winning a national championship with Michigan and being a top 10 pick to the Vikings. The sample size is only 10 games, and though his quarterback rating was the second worst among signal callers with more than 155 pass attempts, there were some flashes of good quarterback play.
And then there’s his age. McCarthy is only 23 years old and can still grow and develop within the position. But he still has tons to prove.
The only problem is Murray, who has proven more in his career thus far, is someone O’Connell trusts more right now with his offense. And O’Connell knows what works — just look at what he did with Sam Darnold in 2024 while McCarthy was injured throughout the season. Darnold went on to revive his career and ultimately win the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks this past season.
One can’t blame Vikings fans if they believe O’Connell can revitalize Murray’s career, but they certainly will hope so after the announcement was made. Meanwhile, McCarthy will have to keep working and wait for that next moment to prove himself.
Quarterback Kyler Murray of the Minnesota Vikings sets up to throw a pass during a preseason game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 15, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Getty Images)
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In his first preseason work with the Vikings on Saturday against the Giants, McCarthy went 4-of-7 for 34 yards with a sack. Carson Wentz , who is battling for the backup role behind Murray as well, went 6-of-11 for 56 yards with one touchdown pass to Myles Price.
Murray played the opening series for the Vikings, connecting on two of his three pass attempts, including a third-and-7 strike to keep a scoring drive alive.
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