Three Players to Watch: El Paso Locomotive FC

(image via El Paso Locomotive FC)

The Houston Dynamo enter the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in the Round of 32 as they welcome El Paso Locomotive FC to Shell Energy Stadium tomorrow night. El Paso comes into this match unbeated in 2026 in all competitions and won their last match 4-0 on the road against Hartford Athletic. Here are 3 players to keep an eye on for this talented Locomotive side.

Rubio Rubin

Rubin should be well known to fans of Concacaf. The 30-year-old spent time early in his career in Europe and has played in Liga MX, MLS, and now the USL Championship. He also has been a mainstay for Guatemala internationally, helping lead them to the 2025 Gold Cup semifinal where they narrowly lost to the United States. Rubin has four goals for El Paso this season, his first with the club.

Amando Moreno

Moreno is Locomotive’s joint top scorer this season, tied with Rubin with 4 goals. The New York Red Bull Academy product had a spells in Mexico with Tijuana and Dorados before returning to the US. He spent a season with the Chicago Fire in MLS before joining New Mexico United where he scored 24 goals over four seasons. Now in his second season with El Paso, Moreno is a focal point for Locomotive on the wing.

Tony Alfaro

A veteran center back at 32-years-old, Alfaro brings loads of experience to the El Paso defense. Alfaro won a MLS Cup with the Seattle Sounders in 2016 and has also spent time in Major League Soccer with D.C. United, New York City FC, And LA Galaxy. He’s a solid defender but can also get involved in the attack, as seen this past weekend when he scored and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week in Locomotive’s 4-0 win over Hartford.