FC Cincinnati midfielder Luciano Acosta has revealed his interest in playing for the U.S. men’s national team.
In an interview for Area Sports Network, the Argentinian discussed his journey to U.S. citizenship and how that could potentially open up the possibility of representing the United States through the men’s national team. Acosta would be very happy to play for the USMNT.
Luciano Acosta wants to play for the USMNT through naturalization
“I still don’t have my citizenship, it’s in the process. My lawyers and people in the club are working on it,” said the FC Cincinnati player.
“If I get to be in the U.S. men’s national team, I would welcome it. I would be very happy to represent the United States, [it’s] the country where my daughter was born but I’m taking everything with tranquility and waiting for everything with its due time,” he added.
Luciano Acosta discusses his journey to U.S. citizenship and #USMNT
“I still don't have it, the citizenship is still in process. My lawyers and the people of the club are working on it. I would be very happy to represent the United States”@alonso_inca
@AreaSportsNet pic.twitter.com/uRMY6wwGwp— Area Sports Network (@AreaSportsNet) May 6, 2024
Acosta arrived to MLS on loan to D.C. United from Argentina giants Boca Juniors in 2016 as a 21-year-old.
After his one-season loan spell, Acosta was signed to a permanent deal with the MLS club.
The Argentinian midfielder played four seasons in MLS before making a surprise move to Liga MX’s Atlas in the middle of the 2020-21 season. Though after one year, ‘Lucho’ would return to the United States, signing for FC Cincinnati in 2021.
Since his return, Acosta has established himself as one of the most prolific playmakers in MLS, reaching double-digits in both goals and assists in the last two seasons.
The 29-year-old is having a similar form in the start of the 2024 MLS season, having five goals and five assists in just 11 games.
A potential call-up for Acosta to the USMNT by Gregg Berhalter would turn the South American into the select-few list of naturalized players to represent the United States at the men’s national team level in the 21st century.
Former USMNT player Dom Dwyer, born and raised in England, was also naturalized to play at the national team level but came to the U.S. as a teenager to play at the collegiate level in 2009 and made his way to MLS years later. After eight years of playing and living in the United States, Dwyer was naturalized as an American citizen and was called up to represent the U.S. at the Gold Cup in 2017. He made four appearances (all at the 2017 Gold Cup), scoring two goals.
