Which Ted Lasso Cast Members Are Genuinely Skilled Soccer Players

‘Ted Lasso’ built its reputation on emotional storytelling, but the show’s soccer scenes needed to look convincing on screen as well. That meant the actors playing AFC Richmond’s roster could not simply fake their way through match sequences, since sloppy footwork would have undercut the illusion the series worked so hard to create.

As it turns out, several members of the cast came to the show with real athletic backgrounds, and the production made sure of it well before cameras started rolling. Apple TV+’s comedy mixed genuine soccer skill with the show’s emotional storytelling, and that combination did not happen by accident.

The Soccer Skills Audition Process Behind the Casting

Casting director Theo Park explained in an interview that it was essential for the entire team to actually be able to play football, making it a core part of the audition process. Actors auditioning for roles as AFC Richmond players were not evaluated on acting alone.

Performers had to complete standard acting scenes and then submit footage showing their football skills as well. That two part process meant hopefuls without any real ability on the pitch were filtered out early, regardless of how strong their line readings were.

The result is a roster of on screen footballers who can generally hold their own in a real match, not just in front of a camera positioned to hide their limitations. This distinguishes ‘Ted Lasso’ from many sports productions that lean entirely on editing and camera tricks to sell athletic scenes.

Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent, later weighed in on just how deep that talent pool runs among his castmates. Goldstein told Popsugar that Cristo Fernandez was a professional player, that Moe Hashim was also a professional, and that Phil Dunster was very good, adding that they were all very good.

Cristo Fernandez Brings Real Professional Experience to Dani Rojas

Cristo Fernandez, who plays the endlessly enthusiastic Dani Rojas, arrived on set with the most substantial competitive background of the cast. Fernandez said in an interview that back home in Guadalajara, Mexico, he played professionally in the third and second divisions rather than the top flight.

Fernandez made his debut for Estudiantes Tecos at fifteen years old, playing within the top professional tier of the Mexican football league system before moving down through lower divisions. He is also noted to have played football for Tescos F.C. in Mexico.

Fernandez was part of the Tecos FC academy, then a first division club, until he was fifteen, and his path toward a professional career was interrupted by two significant knee injuries that pushed him toward pursuing his studies instead. He went on to discover acting at the University of Guadalajara, a detour that eventually led him to ‘Ted Lasso.’

His connection to the sport has not faded since the show wrapped. Fernandez has since appeared in a preseason friendly for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive and has been in talks to sign a professional contract with the club. For an actor whose youth injuries once seemed to close the door on a pro career, that development reads as a full circle moment.

Phil Dunster’s Dedication to Playing Jamie Tartt

Phil Dunster, who portrays the talented but insufferable Jamie Tartt, did not come into the role with a competitive soccer background the way Fernandez did. Dunster has been open about not being a professional footballer, explaining that it takes significant time and skilled editing to make his on screen performance convincing.

Rather than relying purely on camera tricks, Dunster leaned into extensive preparation. He described spending considerable time in rehearsal figuring out which skills specific scenes required, supported by a dedicated sports choreography team and, in the second season, a football director experienced in shooting the sport.

That preparation clearly paid off in the eyes of his castmates. Goldstein specifically singled out Dunster as very good on the ball when asked to assess the cast’s real world ability.

Dunster’s arc mirrors the show’s broader message about growth through effort rather than raw talent alone. His willingness to put in the physical work to match trained teammates like Fernandez and Kola Bokinni, who played the show’s captain and has been described as a semi-professional level player, reflects the same dedication that defines Jamie Tartt’s on screen journey from selfish star to team player.

Moe Hashim’s Real Football Career Beyond Ted Lasso

Moe Hashim, who plays the Swiss midfielder Moe Bumbercatch, is regularly cited by castmates as one of the strongest real life players in the ensemble. Goldstein went further than a general compliment, stating that if forced to pick only one player from the cast, he would choose Hashim, calling him an all around great player and comparing him to a god in the game.

Hashim’s football credentials extend well beyond his ‘Ted Lasso’ role. He stars in a separate project called ‘Broke,’ which follows a young professional soccer player grappling with injury and identity, a story created to raise awareness around mental health in the sport. That project draws directly on the world of competitive football rather than the comedic tone of AFC Richmond.

Observers have noted that beyond his professional playing background, Hashim continues to play regularly, apparently on a local league team. That ongoing commitment to the sport suggests his ability on screen is not a performance built for a single production but a genuine, continuing part of his life.

Together, Hashim and Fernandez represent the two clearest examples of cast members whose soccer ability predates and extends beyond their time on ‘Ted Lasso,’ giving the show’s most technical scenes a level of authenticity that pure choreography could not have replicated on its own.

The blend of trained actors and genuine footballers is a large part of why AFC Richmond’s matches felt believable rather than staged, and it raises an interesting question for fans revisiting the series. Which AFC Richmond player’s on field skill impressed you the most once you learned how much of it was real.