Why Cristian Roldan chose to play for the U.S. at World Cup over 2 other countries

The California native was eligible to play for Guatemala and El Salvador before choosing the U.S.

Cristian Roldan will have a home-field advantage during the World Cup.

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When the U.S. midfielder steps onto the pitch for the team’s opener in Los Angeles on Friday, he’ll be playing just over 20 miles from the patch of grass where he learned to play soccer.

In Pico Rivera, California — a working-class city situated a half-hour drive away from SoFi Stadium — stands his first home field. The pitch was the grass in the backyard of the house where he was raised, the goal was made of PVC pipes his father put together, and his opponents were his two brothers — both of whom are also affiliated with professional soccer.