Cristo Fernández, the actor who played the cheerful footballer Dani Rojas on the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso, has signed a professional contract with El Paso Locomotive FC of the USL Championship, the club announced on May 13, 2026.
Fernández, 35, previously played youth football in Mexico and had a brief stint in the Mexican third division before turning to acting. He joined El Paso Locomotive for the remainder of the 2026 season, pending league and federation approval.
“I’m living my dream,” Fernández said in a club statement. “To be able to combine my passion for football with my love for storytelling is incredible.”
El Paso Locomotive currently sits mid-table in the USL Championship’s Western Conference. The club hopes Fernández’s presence will boost attendance and media attention.
