CHICAGO (Oct. 9, 2024) – Today U.S. Soccer and AT&T announced the second edition of ‘Cultural Connections’ to celebrate Hispanic voices and the cultural contributions and stories that help shape soccer in the United States. This year, ‘Cultural Connections’ is shown through the lens of the player-coach relationship and the deep bonds that shape Hispanic players and coaches’ lives on and off the pitch.
The first two episodes of the content series will tell the story between USMNT forward Jesús Ferreira and former USMNT assistant coach Luchi Gonzalez’s and their shared experiences of the game, while the final episode will highlight the incredible impact a local Austin, Texas youth coach has made on their community. The series complements U.S. Soccer’s Hispanic Heritage Match, presented by AT&T, on Oct. 12 as the USMNT takes on Panama at Q2 Stadium with new head coach Mauricio Pochettino at the helm.
Ferreira and Gonzalez first met during the striker’s early playing days at the FC Dallas Academy, where he rose through the ranks to become a prominent player for the first team under Gonzalez’s guidance. Their journey together was extended as Ferreira made the USMNT roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar during Gonzalez’s tenure as an assistant coach.
As part of the initiative, U.S. Soccer connected Ferreira with Austin-based artist Cat Barrera to bring the spirit of his connection with Gonzalez, as well as that of players and coaches everywhere, to life through a digital art illustration. Barrera is the daughter of Mexican American immigrants and credits her travels between the U.S. and Mexico as a great influence on her art, through which she brings to life the rich artistic history of both cultures.
The design prominently features:
Barrera’s design is featured on a special edition soccer ball which Ferreira gifted to Gonzalez and serves as a symbol of the impact that coaches have on players' lives every day. The ball will make several special appearances during the match, including the TNT Sports pre-game show and the Telemundo halftime show.
In addition, elements from Barrera’s design will be featured across environmental stadium signage, including the center circle, player arch, and photo boards, as well as flag giveaways which AT&T will hand out to fans before the game at Fan HQ. The USA’s captain will also wear a special edition armband featuring the artwork during the match, while seat covers featuring the design will also adorn the Insiders section, presented by Marriott Bonvoy.
In addition, U.S. Soccer will invite more than 10 Hispanic coaches from the Austin area to the USMNT match and will offer them an elevated experience that includes tickets, pre-match field level access, halftime recognition, and a mini soccer ball featuring Barrera’s ‘Cultural Connections’ design, which will be given out to each coach personally by U.S. Soccer Assistant Sporting Director and former USMNT defender Oguchi Onyewu.
Last year, U.S. Soccer and AT&T debuted ‘Cultural Connections’ with a collaboration between USMNT forward Ricardo Pepi and artist Luis Pinto to bring to life the player’s Mexican American heritage and life experiences to life.