When Ricardo Pepi suited up for Team USA’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on Friday, it marked more than just another milestone for one of America’s brightest soccer stars. For his parents, Daniel and Annette Pepi, it was the culmination of years of sacrifice—and proof that the struggle may have been worth it.
Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican parents, Pepi grew up in modest circumstances. Daniel was just 23 when he became a father. Annette was 16. The family lived in a trailer, scraping by while trying to give their son a shot at an unlikely dream.
