IRVINE, Calif. — The nickname follows him everywhere.
Across training grounds in England. Through packed stadiums in the Premier League. Into World Cup camps with the United States men’s national team.
“Jedi!”
Anytime the word is voiced across the field, Antonee Robinson turns his head.
Not Antonee. Not Tony. Not Ant.
Jedi.
At this point, the nickname has become so intertwined with Robinson’s identity that many teammates, coaches and fans know him by it before they ever learn his actual name.
“I feel weird being called Antonee,” Robinson once admitted. “I prefer being called Jedi.”
For a player who has quietly developed into one of the best left backs in world football, it remains one of the more unusual stories in the U.S. national team locker room.
And the origin of the nickname has nothing to do with soccer.
It all started with “Star Wars.”
When Robinson was just a 5-year-old playing youth soccer in Liverpool, he became obsessed with the iconic film franchise helmed by George Lucas. So when he got the chance to put a name on the back of his first youth soccer jersey, he bypassed his own surname and chose “Jedi” instead.
More than two decades later, the nickname has stuck to him like a second skin.
His social media handles include it. His friends and family call him Jedi. Even his fiancée uses it.
Despite the fictional nickname, there’s nothing fictional about Robinson’s rise in American soccer.
Robinson was born in Milton Keynes, England, but his father, Marlon, had emigrated to the United States, settling in White Plains, N.Y. Jedi remained in Liverpool and came through Everton’s academy before stops at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. Since joining Fulham in 2020, he has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s most consistent defenders.
While England was his birthplace, the United States became his soccer home.
Because his father was a U.S. citizen, Robinson was eligible to represent the U.S. national team. He progressed through multiple American youth national teams before earning his first senior cap in 2018 against Bolivia.
Since then, Robinson has become a stalwart in the U.S. starting XI whenever healthy.
After an injury-interrupted stretch the last two years, Robinson looks fully healthy again at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking Wednesday at U.S. training in Irvine, Calif., Robinson discussed the challenge awaiting the Americans against Australia on Friday in Seattle.
“Paraguay was a little bit more open,” Robinson said. “Australia seems pretty happy being comfortable in a low block. They’ve got big, strong defenders. It’ll be a different challenge.”
Australia stunned Turkey 2-0 by scoring two counterattack goals in their opening match. Turkey dominated possession and passing, and outshot Australia 30-9. Robinson and his teammates watched the match and have been preparing for the Socceroos counterattack led by Nestory Irankunda.
“They’re pretty direct and a good threat on the counterattack,” Robinson said. “We’ll look to make sure positioning is good. We’re solid. Ready for counterattacks.”
The U.S. back line of Robinson, captain Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Alex Freeman will anchor the U.S. defense against Australia. But don’t expect to hear “Antonee” being called on the pitch when they communicate.
The little boy who wanted “Jedi” on his back now plays like one in the biggest tournament on Earth. And if he continues that form in this World Cup, his teammates will call him “The Last Jedi” pretty soon.
