A 22-year-old who grew up near Chicago just started a World Cup match for Mexico. Brian Gutiérrez, born in Berwyn, Illinois, lined up in El Tri’s opening game against South Africa on June 11, making him one of the very few US-born players to represent Mexico at a World Cup.
From the Fire academy to Chivas to the World Cup
Gutiérrez signed his first professional contract with the Chicago Fire in March 2020. He was 16 years old.
In December 2025, Gutiérrez transferred to Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, for a reported fee of approximately $5 million.
Chivas has a famously strict policy of only signing Mexican players and those of Mexican descent, making it a culturally significant landing spot for someone navigating dual-national identity. The transfer was both a career play and a personal one, connecting Gutiérrez more directly to his family’s Mexican heritage.
