“Ted Lasso” Star Cristo Fernández 'Grateful' His El Paso Locomotive Teammates Are 'Taking the Piss Out of Me' for Being an Actor (Exclusive)

Stacy LambeTue, June 16, 2026 at 1:42 PM UTC

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Cristo Fernandez in Los Angeles on Oct. 26, 2025Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty -

Cristo Fernández has returned to professional soccer with El Paso Locomotive after a knee injury ended his career at 15

Fernández says his teammates joke about his acting career but appreciates their support and the team's positive energy

The Ted Lasso has also teamed up with Tequila Cazadores for a new campaign celebrating soccer fans

Two decades after his professional soccer career ended when he injured his knee while playing for the Tecos Fútbol Club at age 15, Cristo Fernández has returned to the field after signing with the USL Championship club El Paso Locomotive for the 2026 season.

It's a full-circle moment for the athlete, 35, who turned to acting in the years that followed, eventually breaking out as Dani Rojas on the Apple TV comedy Ted Lasso.

"Right now, I'm just grateful for the opportunity," Fernández tells PEOPLE about joining the team as a forward in May after completing a two-month trial and playing in a preseason match against New Mexico United, adding that he's grateful for "everyone at the organization for just letting me compete and letting me play."

Cristo Fernández for Tequila CazadoresCredit: Cazadores Tequila

"But there's still a long way to go and still things to prove to myself and the people that are believing in me and my family and my friends," he continues while promoting his timely partnership with Tequila Cazadores, which just launched Carded by Cristo, a new campaign that reimagines the game's iconic yellow and red cards as a badge of pride for fans.

"But right now, I'm also just enjoying it. I miss just playing soccer every day. I miss the energy in the locker room. I'm grateful to be on a team where there's good vibes all around, and my teammates here at the El Paso Locomotive, they're amazing. We have a great team," he says.

Of course, not many players join the team armed with a Screen Actors Guild Award, an honor he received when Ted Lasso took home the trophy for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2022. In addition to Ted Lasso, Fernández has also appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home and Venom: The Last Dance and had roles on Zorro and Acapulco.

Cristo Fernandez on 'Ted Lasso'Credit: Apple TV

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So, what do his teammates think about having a TV star on the roster? "I'm grateful they are not thinking that much about that," Fernández says, adding with a laugh, "I'm grateful they just take the piss out of me. The other day I got hit, injured when playing and then at the end someone was saying, 'He's just acting, he's doing dramas.' "

While he settles in with his team, which continues to play matches while the MLS is on hiatus for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Fernández is also busy promoting his latest campaign with Tequila Cazadores.

"It's a full-circle moment for me — returning to professional football with El Paso Locomotive FC and partnering again with Tequila Cazadores to celebrate the sport that has given me so much. This journey has been a reminder that even the craziest dreams are worth chasing," he says, noting that this is the perfect time to celebrate the fans. "This campaign is for them. ¡Vamos, real fans!"

Cristo Fernández for Tequila CazadoresCredit: Cazadores Tequila

Starting on Tuesday, June 16, fans can get their hands on a pack of Real Fan Cards, which include playful, personality-driven labels for everyone watching together, from the superstitious diehard to the self-appointed coach.

Fans 21 and older can visit Cazadores.com to get carded. There they can also take a quiz to find out which card sums up their personality best, while also learning how to make Fernández's signature game day cocktail, El Golazo. They can also learn more about meeting the Ted Lasso star in person and have a chance at getting one of the brand's limited-edition soccer bottle jerseys, which are replicas of the custom streetwear-style jersey the athlete previously co-designed.

"I think a good shot and then sharing it with your friends, there's nothing better than that," Fernández tells PEOPLE, adding that when it comes to the cards, "I like the concept because it's true when I watch the games with my friends, there's always different types of personalities."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”