Updated 09:41 AM EDT, Fri, Mar 29, 2024

The Immigrant Ties Run Deep on the USMNT: These 7 Players are Sons of Immigrants on our National Team

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The USMNT greatly reflects the varying ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds that call America home. In fact, the United States Men's National Soccer Team is even comprised of some players who are first generation Americans, with parents who immigrated to the United States. 

Out of Team USA's 23 players, seven have parents where either one -- or both -- were born outside of the United States.

The seven players: Alejandro Bedoya, Jozy Altidore, Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Howard, Aron Johnannsson and Nick Rimando, all ended up in the United States with ties from another countr. Some of their parents immigrated to the United States and then had their children; others were born abroad to one U.S. citizen parent, which made their offspring naturalized citizens.

But no matter how they wound up in the United States, one thing is for sure: they're all Americans.

Jozy Altidore: Born in Livingston, N.J., to two Haitian-born parents.

Alejandro Bedoya: Born in Englewood, N.J., to two Colombian-born parents

Tim Howard: Born in New Brunswick, N.J., to an African-American father and his Hungarian mother.

Aron Johannsson: Born in Mobile, Ala., to Icelandic parents.

Omar Gonzalez: Born in Dallas, Texas, to Mexican parents.

Mix Diskerud: Born in Oslo, Norway, to a Norwegian father and an American mother.

Aside from the seven players whose parents immigrated to the United States, Team USA also has four players who were born overseas in Germany, while their father's were serving in the military.

These foreign born players include John Brooks, Timmy Chandler, Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson. Even USMNT manager Jürgen Klinsmann was born in Germany.

Team USA also has two players who are of Native American decent: Chris Wondolowski and DeAndre Yedlin.

The varying cultural descents of the United States team is a testament to the idea that racial differences do not separate the group. Rather, they strengthen the unit as a whole.

While no player on Team USA is an immigrant themselves, they are the offspring of parents who were able to migrate to the United States, whether by their spouses or by filing for citizenship.

Immigration reform continues to be a hot button issue in the American political sphere.

If the makeup of Team USA says anything about the issue, it says that diversity is the key to any great civilization.     

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