And you thought there were no MLS representatives in the Women’s World Cup. As it turns out, a former member of FC Dallas is a starting center back for the Mexican national team and made her World Cup debut Tuesday in their tournament-opening 1-1 draw with Colombia.
Well, more accurately, the player in question, Christina Murillo (pictured above, No. 4), is a former FCD intern.
The University of Michigan senior and Ojai, California, native started for Mexico and went the full 90 against Colombia, becoming the first women’s soccer player from the school to compete in the World Cup. But before all that, she spent last summer as a communications intern with FC Dallas, according to a tweet sent out by the team.
Even without the internship, her soccer resume is impressive enough.
Murillo has represented Mexico at various youth levels and at the 2012 U-20 Women’s World Cup. She took this past college season off to prepare for the World Cup with Mexico, but prior to that she started 57 of 59 matches for the Wolverines, scoring two goals and contributing eight assists as a center midfielder and center back.
In 2013, after missing two games while playing for Mexico, Murillo returned to help Michigan advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second time in program history. Now she's trying to help Mexico make program history and advance at the Women's World Cup for the first time ever.
