{"id":1641,"date":"2026-06-11T13:35:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=1641"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:35:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:35:32","slug":"how-family-sacrifices-motivated-usmnt-star-ricardo-pepis-to-reach-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jacksonvillemovingnews.com\/?p=1641","title":{"rendered":"How family sacrifices motivated USMNT star Ricardo Pepi’s to reach the World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ricardo Pepi was competing in a soccer match when it began to rain.<\/p>\n

The future U.S. men\u2019s national team star, just a teenager at the time, continued playing as the rain fell and the stands emptied. One soaked spectator, however, remained seated. His father. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo one around him, the rain was falling down hard and he\u2019s watching his son,\u201d Miguel L\u00f3pez, Pepi\u2019s former coach, recalled on NBC\u2019s \u201cMy New Favorite Futbolista.\u201d \u201cThat gave me a lot of respect for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a small but symbolic moment shared between Pepi, his father and Mother Nature that encapsulated the family\u2019s dedication to the pursuit of a dream. It showed that no matter where Pepi\u2019s soccer career took him, his family would always be there \u2014 near or far, win or lose, rain or shine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is the sacrifices you have to make to get here,\u201d said Pepi, now a 23-year-old striker for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. \u201cNot only mine, but also my family\u2019s \u2014 my parents, my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n