Kellyn
Acosta

NATIONAL TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Played in 21 matches in 2021, marking the most appearances by a USMNT player in a calendar year since 1994

• Started four of five appearances in helping the USA win the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup

• Scored his first international goal on a free kick in the USA’s 2-1 win vs. Ghana on July 1, 2017

• Was part of the U.S. roster at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2013 and 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cups.

2022 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING

• Jointly led the USMNT along with Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson with 13 appearances out of a possible 14 qualifiers.

• Assisted on Weston McKennie’s game-winning goal in the eight minute of the USA’s 3-0 win against Honduras on Feb. 2, 2022, in St. Paul, Minnesota

• Has 19 career caps in World Cup Qualifying, tied for second-most among the current crop of players

CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

• Captured his second MLS Supporters Shield as part of LAFC in 2022

• Won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and MLS Supporters Shield with FC Dallas in 2016

• Signed as a Homegrown Player with FC Dallas in July 2012

• Helped FC Dallas U-17/18s win the 2010-11 U.S. Soccer Development Academy championship

PERSONAL

• Parents are Ken and Kanikah. His father and grandmother were born in Japan, which would have made him eligible to represent the Samurai Blue.

• He is the first Japanese-American man to represent the U.S. at the World Cup

• Grew up in a household with African, Japanese and Mexican influences

• Credits former Dallas Tornado player Zequinha for helping him develop early on

• Was cut from his school’s junior varsity soccer team in 2010 before joining U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Residency Program a month later

• Lists former U.S. striker Eddie Johnson as one of his soccer heroes growing up

• Big into food and fashion