This Tuesday the player Andrés Perea, ex-player of National with process in Selection Colombia, received the confirmation of FIFA for the change of association and to be able to represent the United States. The player who signed in 2020 with Orlando City was a World Cup winner with Colombia and has already received his call-up to the USA Under-23 team.
Through its official page the association of soccer of the United States announced the news: “FIFA has granted to Andres Perea unique request of change of association to represent the United States.
Perea was born in Tampa, Florida and is the son of former football player Nixon Perea. At the age of 5 he left for Colombia and from a very young age he joined the basic forces of Atlético Nacional. He represented the national tricolor at the world championships in India in 2017 (pre-youth category) and Poland Under-20 in 2019, where Colombia reached the quarterfinals. He made his professional debut in 2017 with the Verdolagues, and in 2020 he was signed by Orlando City.
He had an impressive campaign in the MLS and the fact that he had American nationality aroused the interest of Gregg Berhalter, coach of the national team, and Jason Kreis, in charge of the Under-23 team. Upon completing work with Orlando City, Perea received an invitation to join a camp in December.
“Weeks later he submitted a single request for a change of association to FIFA to represent the United States in the future. The world governing body of football granted the request,” the federation reported.
The defensive winger received the official call-up and joins the U.S. national team this month, amid preparations to seek a quota at the Tokyo Olympics.
On his social media the player expressed what it means to play for the United States: “It was a very important decision for me. Colombia is my country too, but it is an honor for me to represent the United States as I did. with Colombia in the past “.
In a video posted by the official account of the USA national team, coach Gregg gives the news to Perea and in passing welcomes the “brotherhood”.