Zach Duke

Is Zach Duke a professional soccer player? Is it real?

In indoor soccer, yes. The Empire Strykers of the Major Arena Soccer League, a professional indoor league, drafted him as a forward with the 24th overall pick, in the third round of the 2024 MASL Pro Combine Draft in October 2024. Head coach Paul Wright said his “unique path places him in a slightly different category.” Liberty’s student paper, the Champion, reported in March 2025 that he was playing for the Strykers. Earlier in 2024 the Brazilian club Nacional invited him for a month of training and league matches. We found no report of an outdoor professional contract.

Is Zach Duke playing in the World Cup?

Not the FIFA World Cup. He was not on the United States squad for the 2026 tournament, played June 11 to July 19, 2026. The World Cup in his story is a different one: the Liberty Journal reported in April 2026 that Federação Socca Brasil selected him in February 2026 for Brazil’s 6v6 national team at the 2026 Copa América and World Cup of SOCCA, the small-sided format. The SOCCA World Cup opened in Essen, Germany, on August 28, 2026. We could not find a published roster or match report confirming whether he played there.

Is Zach Duke on LA Galaxy? Does he play for LA Galaxy?

No. He is not on the LA Galaxy roster, and we found no report that he signed with or trained with the Galaxy. The likely source of the mix-up: his professional team, the Empire Strykers, is an indoor club in Ontario, California, in the Los Angeles area, and his Team USA indoor match against Mexico was played there, at Toyota Arena, on September 29, 2024, per the Strykers.

Where does Zach Duke play now?

The last club we can source is the Empire Strykers, from the 2024 draft and the March 2025 Champion report, which said his next steps were undecided. The most recent dated item is the February 2026 SOCCA Brazil selection reported by the Liberty Journal in April 2026. As of October 2026 we found no published report naming a current club, so his own Instagram is the place to check.

Is Zach Duke legit? Is he good at soccer?

The milestones are on the record from the teams and outlets involved, not just from his own posts: the Brazil invite, the Team USA indoor call-up, the MASL draft and his Hoosier Army side reaching the semifinals of The Soccer Tournament in June 2024. How good he is, we leave to coaches. His own coach at the Strykers credited his willpower and discipline, and Duke himself has called it a long shot.

Is this the Zach Duke who pitched for the Pirates?

No. This entry is about the soccer creator known as World Cup Dad. The other Zach Duke is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who made the 2009 All-Star team with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

How old is Zach Duke? What is his real name?

He has not published a birth date, so we do not list an age. His name is Zach Duke, the name the Strykers and Liberty use; World Cup Dad is the name of his account.

Where is Zach Duke from?

Indiana. The Empire Strykers describe him as an Indiana native, and Famous Birthdays lists Bargersville, Indiana. He played The Soccer Tournament for Hoosier Army.

What about his family, height or personal life?

Not something we cover.

Where can I watch Zach Duke?

Instagram @worldcupdad is the main account, with a smaller TikTok at @worldcupdad.

What is Zach Duke’s net worth?

He does not publish a number and neither do we.

Who represents Zach Duke?

We found no published agency or management listing. Ames Create does not represent him; we cover him because people keep asking whether his story is real, and most of it is on the record. If that changes, this entry will say so.

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