Alejandro Bedoya reflects on his World Cup TV debut, the U.S.’ run, and lessons for Union teammates

Alejandro Bedoya thought he was getting the hang of things in his first TV job, working as a studio analyst for Telemundo’s World Cup coverage.

Then, as he was preparing for the U.S. team’s opening game against Paraguay, he was told he would also be in the booth during the game.

“I was the most nervous I’ve been in a while,” Bedoya said. “I thought I was just doing pregame, halftime, postgame, and then they told me, ‘Nope, you’re going to be up in the booth, chiming in on live commentary.’ That was pretty nerve-wracking.’”

But he ended up fine, thanks to the guidance of colleagues including Hall of Fame play-by-play voice Andrés Cantor.

“He was amazing throughout, just tapping me on my shoulder or giving me a look in terms of when it was my time to chime in and when I could have a say,” Bedoya said. “Watching the game up from there, you feel like you’ve got the best seat in the house because tactically you can see everything so clearly. … It was really nerve-wracking knowing that millions and millions of viewers are tuning in, and whatever I say, yeah, everybody takes notice of that. But it was still very cool and unique.”

Bedoya has always been fluent in Spanish, thanks to Colombian parents who raised him in north Jersey and south Florida; and has long been an outspoken character on and off the field. So it made sense for Telemundo to pick him as part of a new era of American pundits, along with former U.S. teammate Jozy Altidore.

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“They were very important in building the fútbol culture in this country, and that means a lot,” studio host Miguel Gurwitz said. “You’re talking about two great players. They know our language, they get it, they know how important fútbol is for our community.”

Bedoya said he was “very grateful” for “an opportunity that would be hard to turn down, to be part of the World Cup following the U.S. team.”

He got to work on site at other games too, including France’s July 4 contest in Philadelphia. There have been some eye-opening lessons about life in the media, from the frenzy of a game day to the travel logistics of moving all of a network’s broadcasters around three countries. And he has gotten to meet some of the greats from around the world who are also working for Telemundo this summer.

“I never thought that I mean I’d be having breakfast with [Argentina’s] Gabriel Batistuta and [Brazil’s] Dunga and [Paraguay’s] Roque Santa Cruz and all these other legendary players,” Bedoya said. “I feel out of place of course. I’m not at that level. But it’s been amazing just to be a little bit behind the scenes of everything, and of course, being able to be present at these World Cup games following the U.S. team, and their journey and their ride and the ride that they took us on.”

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His travels also offered a glimpse of how much this World Cup has captivated the American audience.

“Seeing on all the flights, the people tuning into their mobile devices, watching the games, has been awesome,” he said. “All the travel has helped me see how much people really got sucked into the soccer and the World Cup, and what the World Cup does to a nation. … Not just meeting the people I work with, but meeting fans and new people, strangers in the airports, in the lounges, at the hotels, and everything.”

Bedoya had lots to say about the U.S. team’s run, which electrified the country before the calamitous defeat to Belgium — and the controversy that came with it — in the round of 16.

“Like I talked about earlier in my travels and stuff, you really saw how Americans came together,” he said, “They did a great job of uniting the country and leaning on that pride for people to rally behind them. After that game against Paraguay, people started talking and people got really excited. They had another great game against Australia in Seattle.”

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It wasn’t just the results, but the manner: a stylish win over Paraguay, a hard-fought win over Australia, and a gritty effort to hold off Bosnia after Folarin Balogun’s red card.

“In true American-spirit fashion, with their backs against the wall, they really were able to will it out and get that second goal with [Malik] Tillman’s free kick,” Bedoya said. “And then look, hey, the country is even more galvanized and ready to root for this team, and fall in love with them. And then that’s where the sour taste kind of comes into play.”

Bedoya played in the 2014 U.S.-Belgium World Cup game. So did four players on this year’s Red Devils squad, including three who played in the 4-1 rout in Seattle. Their age and the U.S. team’s talent and belief were among the reasons why Bedoya thought the Americans had a shot to, as he said, “go toe-to-toe with them.”

“The style that [Mauricio] Pochettino has tried to instill in them, which was to compete with at a level of intensity, aggressiveness that other teams can’t handle. … Well, the U.S. did not do that at all,” he said. “That’s the most disappointing part. Because I do think that this team has the talent to be able to compete better, and I don’t think they competed in the way that we felt that they could, that their level is.”

» READ MORE: As Folarin Balogun reflects on his world exploding, Belgium rejoices over beating the U.S.

He believes the players “know themselves,” and “feel it [when] you know that you could have done better and it wasn’t good enough.”

Bedoya also noted the scandal of U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and its affect on the game.

“And then you go on with all the other distractions and everything that was happening around the game that really was unnecessary,” he said. “There was so much good that had been happening up to that point — up to the day before, I guess you can say — and then it just really turned sour and negative. It’s unfortunate.”

He had sympathy for the players who had nothing to do with it, especially Balogun, “because I feel like he’s now synonymous with this issue, which is not his fault at all.”

» READ MORE: The USMNT lived down to Donald Trump’s expectations: They played like the losers he thought they were | Mike Sielski

Now the time will come, as always happens after World Cups, for a new generation of players to step up. Two potential candidates who are Bedoya’s Union teammates were at the Belgium game: Cavan Sullivan as a fan, and Andrew Rick as a practice squad goalkeeper with the U.S. for the summer.

Bedoya got to see Rick along the way, and was happy to know the 20-year-old made himself a sponge and took it all in.

“He’s enjoyed this experience so much, he’s learned so much,” he said. “Training sessions, being around the hotel, the energy, the professionalism, being around the culture that coaching and staff is trying to establish, you can’t replicate that. … That’s the type of person he is, and that’s because he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Bedoya didn’t get to see Sullivan, but sent the 16-year-old playmaker a text after the game: “Disappointed that the team didn’t perform well, but I hope you when you’re watching this game, you see yourself here, because you’re the future, right?”

» READ MORE: ‘It’s a dream,' Union goalkeeper Andrew Rick says of helping the U.S. World Cup team

Both players are “two of our most promising prospects and talents at the Union,” Bedoya said, and “great guys at taking directions and listening. I have great relationships with both of them.”

Now they have to take their potential and turn it into reality, not just with their skills but as much hard work as Bedoya has put in over his career.

“I did fly back to Philly for a few days in between these trips to train with the team, because I’m still actively playing,” he said. “Obviously I’m not a 90-minute player anymore, but I enjoy being in this kind of mentorship role, because I can use every ounce of my experience and what I’ve been through, what I’ve seen, what I know, to give them tips here and there.

And if they need a reminder, they need only think about this moment.

“I’m just happy that they got to experience this — because experience goes a long way, but they’ve got to keep putting in work,” Bedoya said. “As that Belgium game showed, as much as we think this might be the most talented group of players, talent alone is not going to get you a great career. It takes passion, it takes intensity, it takes mentality.”