Actor and professional soccer player Cristo Fernandez participated as a Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Coin Toss Assistant during the tournament match between Canada and South Africa at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Fernandez, known for playing Dani Rojas on "Ted Lasso," joined the pre-match ceremonies as part of an expanded program featuring influential figures across North America.
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The Guadalajara-born athlete signed a professional contract with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive FC in May 2026.
He returned to the sport after a knee injury ended his early academy career at age 15.
Before the game, Fernandez interacted with Mexico soccer legends Carlos Salcido and Andres Guardado, as well as sports broadcaster Miguel Gurwitz.
He then walked onto the pitch to shake hands with the referees and handed them the match coin following the national anthems.
Dreams and Passion
"Regardless of your age, it's cool to dream because we are told in society that only kids and young children are allowed to dream big, but I think it's for all ages," Fernandez said in an interview with Sports Illustrated while wearing Mexico's green home jersey.
The actor explained that his transition back to competitive sports allowed him to recapture his internal motivation after portraying a footballer onscreen.
"As time passed, it awoke in me, this passion again," he stated. "But also I wanted to prove to myself that I actually could play.
