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    Exclusive: Sergino Dest on why he chose USMNT over the Netherlands | ESPN FC
    World Cup 2026

    Exclusive: Sergino Dest on why he chose USMNT over the Netherlands | ESPN FC



    Sergino Dest sits down with ESPN’s Tom Hamilton to discuss his decision to represent the United States, whether players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie influenced his decision, and why he wants to do something with the U.S. “that nobody’s ever done.”

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    View 48 Comments

    48 Comments

    3. DGF on

      Please enjoy this great player USA! Very complete and balanced winger who always seems to have something up his sleeve. Might grow to be one of the best in his position. Sad to see him go, (although we have a true force in Dumfries imo).

    5. Julien Grix on

      There are many factors as to why someone chooses to play for a nation that is technically not one they have much history with and it's not always solely based on the game, exposure and their career- Prince Boateng drops Germany for Ivory Coast, Motta drops Brazil for Italy. They offer different experiences and opportunities down the road. Just ask another very dutch national who opted to play for the USMNT, Earnie Stewart (granted, he would never have played for the Netherlands in 1990) who became general manager of the USMNT in 2018. Any 19-year-old who starts for Ajax in 2019 has serious talent. Only he can decide later if this choice was a mistake. He might become the first US citizen to start for FC Barcelona at the senior level…

    6. QARNAIN cat babu cat on

      Worst decision ever….
      Which nationality you play affect your value in future..playing for Netherland has more value than playing with usa..
      They have huge talented players than Usa…

    8. James Murray on

      US don't know how to develop football players, being surrounded by below average footballers is not a good think for a developing player, strange decision.

    9. wade2bosh on

      born in netherlands. raised there. developed in dutch system. plays for ajax………………………….should play for netherlands.

    17. Yonas Fisiha on

      Weird weird choice. He is already now better than all of hollands right backs, so you can't say say he did it out of fear of competetion. Born and raised in Holland, barely started speaking english. I dont know he ended up choosing the US but hey all good luck to him

    24. hk K on

      USMNT and US country in general we will always accept anyone around the world. You will always be considered American. That’s what makes the American dream

    29. nikolai moeller on

      Why would this dude play for the US when he could be challenging for the Euros and World Cup with the Netherlands???? He can barely speak English??? (Btw im not from the NE or US)

    32. Cal Carr on

      I am American and am very happy he chose so but i honestly still cant understand why he did lol. He is clearly more from Dutch culture and is obviously good enough to start for either country. Im not complaining just a lil confused and surprised lol

    34. Music Friend on

      Somebody says ”they will ignore you now but they will need you later”
      Netherlands literally ignored him when he was young and was playing for Ajax ’B while USA care and treated him like a family, gave him chances. Now he signed for Barcelona and becoming a great player, honestly at some point Netherlands would regret and bitter later

    35. SammyTV on

      So many crying europeans ….france wins the world cup on the back of their colonial history and your mad a couple guys choose the us ?

    37. oc2k13 on

      I can understand John Brooks, Jermain Jones or Fabian Johnson picking USA over Germany.
      I can understand Antonee Robinson or Callum Carter-Vickers picking USA over England.
      But I can't understand this, maybe when USA play Netherlands again with him in the game.

    39. Dj Deadpool Zl on

      Why people hating him just cuz he's from the Netherlands I mean look at Hugo Perez he was from El Salvador but still played for the US and Also Look at Samuel Umtiti he was born in Cameroon but decided to play with France and clearly in FIFA eligibility he has a clear connection because of his dad.

    40. T-dog 1999 on

      Never been a fan of people born and raised in one country playing for another country in international soccer. Playing for your country on the international level is about fighting for your country and having representing your country not just playing for a certain national team because you like the soccer on that team more. Not a fan of the whole Dest thing.

    41. bokir on

      I'm Dutch. And I'm not salty that he chose the US. Good for him, he is wanted by the US, and he is part US in heritage, nothing wrong for wanting to represent your country.

      But for all of you US fan saying he is better than Dumfries. Cmon man, please 🙏 watch more European football (soccer) first. Also, watch Eredivisie. Yes it's not as fancy as La Liga or EPL, but you will see many talented Dutch players there. Dumfries is one of them. Feyenoord has a talented young right back, Lutshareel Geertruida. And honestly, they are better than Dest. I know he plays for barca now. He has great potential in the future. But simply saying he the best right back for Netherlands is wrong. He probably could be in the team, but not the starting 11. There's too many talent on the pool, other than Dumfries, there's Hateboer, Karsdorp, and other young fullbacks. So I'm glad he is developing well, at the end of the day, he is partially Dutch. But better than Dumfries, cmon man. Watch the Netherlands in the Euro right now and you will see, 😂.

    42. Zeroid on

      Even if he was in the Netherlands he wouldn’t have any reputation for Dutch’s best players would steal it but I’m glad for dest he made a decision that would make him a legend

    43. Samuel Asmelash on

      In my opinionb you should be playing for the country you were born in this just defeats the purpose of a national team if you're just gonna be country hopping.

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