Editorial— It is officially World Cup month. With the World Cup being hosted in the United States (alongside Mexico and Canada), the hype around the tournament will be at an all-time high for Colorado soccer fans. Unfortunately, Denver was not picked to host any games. But Colorado will be represented in the tournament through four Rapids players. Three former, one current, and, funnily enough, all center backs. So, who is going to be representing the Rapids at the World’s biggest stage?
Lucas Herrington
The only current Rapid that made any World Cup roster is Australian Center Back Lucas Herrington. The 18-year-old will be one of the youngest players at the World Cup. After his breakout year in Colorado, he certainly won’t look out of place.
Herrington joined the Rapids this winter offseason, after being signed the previous window. From Brisbane Roar in the Australian League, he has been a mainstay in the Rapids backline. For good reason, too. The young center back hasn’t gotten the national recognition he deserves. He has easily been the Rapids best defender and potentially the Rapids best player at the halfway mark.
Lucas Herrington hasn’t had much experience playing with his national team. He has only made three appearances with the first team, after representing Australia at multiple different youth age groups. While Herrington lacks the experience with that level, he doesn’t show it. He exhibits such cool confidence that Australia will be lucky to have.
For many Rapids fans who will be rooting for the United States at this tournament, Herrington will be on the other side of the coin as the US and Australia are in the same group. The two teams face off on June 19th in Seattle. It’s unknown if Herrington will start for the Socceroos, but many US fans should hope against it come June 19th. Australia would do well to surprise a few people in this tournament. With Lucas Herrington in the back, Australia could go far in this tournament.
Tommy Smith
A name that a few would have to think a bit harder to remember, Tommy Smith has done a lot since leaving the Rapids in 2019. His stint with the club came at a pretty sour time. His departure coincided with the Rapids’ form turning around for the better. The New Zealand international has played for Colchester, MK Dons, Macarther, and Judgmental Jim’s Auckland FC. He now plays at Braintree Town in the National League. While his time at the Rapids was decently poor, at 36-years-old, the center back will represent New Zealand at the World Cup.
It’s not much of a surprise that Smith made the New Zealand World Cup team. He has been a part of the side since 2010, with some hiatuses here and there. With 55 appearances for the New Zealand national team, he will bring experience. He might not see much of the field, similar to us not seeing much from New Zealand at the World Cup, but Tommy Smith is another former Rapid to make this World Cup.
Auston Trusty
The only former Rapid to represent the United States at the World Cup will be Auston Trusty. The 27-year-old was a big part of the Rapids success in 2021. In his two and a half year career with the Rapids, he was a part of some of the most successful Rapids sides in history. His departure also started the general trend downwards that ended in Robin Fraser’s dismissal. He usually played alongside Danny Wilson and Lalas Abubakar in a three-back system. Trusty had an unceremonious end to life in Colorado. He was sold midseason to Arsenal for little to no return for the Rapids. He has since made his home in Scotland, being a mainstay for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
Being the host country, the United States has big aspirations for this World Cup. How much Auston Trusty is involved is not known. The US doesn’t seem to have a set-in-stone second or third choice at center back outside of Chris Richards. Trusty has a great opportunity to take hold of that spot right before the World Cup. Trusty only has seven appearances for the USMNT going into the World Cup. Many USMNT supporters are calling for Trusty to be picked over Tim Ream or Miles Robinson. We’ll see if Pochettino agrees.
Moïse Bombito
The last player to represent the Rapids at the World Cup is probably the most liked former Rapid on this list. Moïse Bombito was picked for Canada, and Bombito still feels like one of our own. One of, if not the best, center backs in Rapids history, it was only a matter of fitness for Bombito to make the World Cup roster. He had a bit of a scare in the most recent Canada World Cup preparation match, but it was only a scare, and it was a preplanned 30-minute appearance for Bombito.
Bombito was only a Rapid for one and a half years, but was huge in the early success under Chris Armas in 2024. He was quickly realized to be too good for the level he was at, and was swiftly swept up by Nice in the French league mid-season in 2024. He had always been a fan favorite in Colorado, and he has been nothing but great to Rapids fans since his departure. His time at Nice, unfortunately, hasn’t been without injuries, with Bombito just coming back from a pretty serious leg injury that has kept him out of much of 2025/2026.
Canada will hope that he can be close to 100% come World Cup time, as he elevates their team to a whole new level. Canada is one of the three host nations for this World Cup, and usually obsolete Canada will look to make a splash in this tournament. The Canadians have been having an upward trajectory in the last few years, so expect them to go farther than you think. Especially if Moïse Bombito can start.
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Matt Pollard 
Eamon Shaw 