Meet the USWNT chef responsible for feeding the World Cup champs during qualifiers in Mexico

MONTERREY, Mexico — Hamburgers, pork chops, mac and cheese: It's hard to pick a favorite dish. That's not even mentioning the custom vegan plates that turn heads at every meal.

Away from the field and the pressures of qualifying for the World Cup and Olympics, food is the talk of the U.S. women's national team at the CONCACAF W Championship. And Teren Green might be the most popular person on the team.

«He's great, such a good chef,» U.S. defender Sofia Huerta said, raving about everything from tacos to avocado toast. Huerta and her teammates already qualified for the 2023 World Cup, and they will try to clinch a spot in the 2024 Olympics on Monday.

Green — or «Chef T» as he's known to just about everyone — is the team's personal chef brought in during big tournaments, cooking every meal for players and staff. Three times per day — four on game days for the late-night, postgame meals — he oversees the fueling of the two-time defending World Cup champions.

Framed like that, it can sound like a stressful job, but what sets Green apart is his ability to make popular food while keeping mealtime fun. Part of that process is allowing players to have a say in the menu. Each player gets an opportunity to design the menu on a given day. The staff will put out a poster with the player on it to celebrate their choices, none of which ever disappoint once prepared.

Emily Fox and Megan Rapinoe celebrated birthdays early in the CONCACAF W Championship in Mexico. Fox opted for a local flair: tacos and ceviche, then churros for dessert. Then came the birthday cake, along with a team singalong that the introverted Fox said Rapinoe enjoyed a bit more.

This collaborative effort between chef and team is a window into how Green operates — and