Interview with Alexandros Ieridies: Pathways to becoming a pro in America

For this post, I had the pleasure of speaking with a close friend and former teammate, Alexandros (Alex) Ieriedes. Alex’s soccer journey has taken him across multiple countries and levels of the game. Born and raised in Cyprus, he came to the U.S. to play Division 1 college soccer, beginning his career at Coastal Carolina before transferring to the University of Memphis to finish out his degree. After college, he pursued a professional career in the U.S., playing for a year before ultimately returning to Cyprus.

But his path to the professional game wasn’t smooth. Unlike domestic players, Alex had to navigate the complex web of visa restrictions and limited international roster spots that make it extremely difficult for foreign athletes to secure contracts in the U.S. professional leagues. His experience sheds light on the hidden challenges that many international players face when trying to break into the American soccer system.

When I asked Alex about the biggest obstacles he encountered during his trials, he didn’t hesitate.

“The first and biggest thing was the visa application process itself,” he explained. “The U.S. has such specific work visa laws, which are so different from Europe when it comes to playing in another country, where athletes are allowed to travel across the EU. Teams were obviously hesitant to sign me regardless of how I trained because they would have to go through a difficult and expensive visa application procedure.”

The financial burden on clubs to sign an international player is significant, often costing teams an additional ten to twenty thousand dollars in visa fees and paperwork. That cost alone was enough to make teams reconsider signing a foreign player, even if they performed well in training.

“I kept hearing the same thing,” Alex said. “‘You’re good enough for us to sign, but there’s also an American on trial who is close enough to your level, so we’re going to go with them instead.’ When compared to signing a domestic player who doesn't need any additional paperwork, it’s a huge turnoff for teams. It affected me mentally a lot because after a while, it was hard not to doubt myself when it always came down to the same problem.”

Beyond visa issues, Alex also faced another major hurdle—the limited number of international roster spots available on U.S. professional teams.

“A certain proportion of foreign player spots are often reserved for well-known signings or seasoned internationals,” he said. “So, basically, any guys who already played professionally somewhere in the world or internationals who have already played and proven themselves in the U.S. Regardless of my abilities, I wasn’t considered a good investment for an international position as a trialist. Whether it was a USL Championship team or a USL League One team, it didn’t matter how I performed—I wasn’t a priority because of my passport.”

The reality of American soccer, as Alex sees it, is that teams prioritize revenue and financial stability over simply signing the best available talent.

“I would have had a far better chance if I had an American passport,” he admitted. “It’s annoying because aptitude, not nationality, should always be the deciding factor. But in U.S. soccer, it’s not viewed that way.”

Alex believes these restrictions don’t just hurt international players—they also slow down the overall growth of soccer in the U.S.

“Well, I actually think that’s what it impacts the most,” he said. “Let me use Europe as an example. At home, all the top-level teams and academies bring in foreign players to raise the level. By doing so, you ensure that training sessions are as competitive as possible on a daily basis. You create a high-level environment.

“But by placing international restrictions on clubs, like in the U.S., and prioritizing domestic players, you’re actually limiting the growth of the same domestic players you’re trying to help. They don’t get exposed to the highest level of talent available. Americans think they’re ensuring growth for domestic players, but they’re actually holding them back by not giving them the chance to consistently train and play against higher-level opponents. Until they change that, the gap will remain.”

Alex’s journey highlights the significant barriers that international players face when trying to play professionally in the U.S. Visa restrictions, international roster limits, and financial obstacles make it incredibly difficult for talented foreign players to get opportunities, regardless of their skill level.

If American soccer truly wants to grow, removing or at least adjusting these restrictions could be a key step forward. Not only would it attract more high-level talent, but it would also push domestic players to improve by exposing them to greater competition. Until then, players like Alex will continue to face an uphill battle—not because they lack ability, but because of a system that makes it unnecessarily difficult for them to succeed.