Defender Sofia Huerta will represent the United States women’s national team in the upcoming 2023 World Cup, but she didn’t always boast the stars and Stripes.
Born in the United States to a Mexican father, the OL Reign player became a saught after dual-nationality player. She originally kicked off her international career with the Mexican national team, recording two goals in five appearances before filing FIFA’s one-time switch in 2017.
But regardless of which crest she wears, the Mexican-American remains proud to stand as a symbol for the growing dual-nationality community in the United States that often see themselves without players to look up to.
"I'm so proud to represent the Latinx community," she said to 90min.
"You know, when I was making a decision to play for Mexico or the U SI had a hard time deciding because I didn't want it to feel like I was choosing one or the other, having to choose what I wanted to identify with more because it felt that way at times because I identify as a Mexican American.
"And you know, although I grew up in Idaho, I went to Mexico multiple times a year with my family all the time during the best times of the year like Christmas. And so I was really engraved in that culture. Although I grew up somewhere where it wasn't celebrated that often, but I'm really proud to represent the Latinx community.
"And I hope that all the little girls and boys that see work on the back of my jersey know that they can accomplish anything that they want to."
Huerta will now head to her first World Cup, competing against defenders Alana Cook, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett for a spot in that starting 11.
The USWNT head into the tournament looking to secure their third-consecutive World Cup trophy, after winning the titles in 2015 and 2019. The team kicks off against Vietnam on July 21, before facing the Netherlands and Portugal in Group E in hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
This article was originally published on 90min as USWNT's Sofia Huerta: I'm so proud to represent the Latinx community.