Erik Dueñas Bio
Erik Dueñas is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder. Born on October 18, 2004, in Los Angeles, California, he came up through the Los Angeles FC youth academy and became one of the club’s first homegrown signings in 2020. Dueñas made his Major League Soccer debut later that year and has since built experience through loan spells in the lower divisions before moving abroad to Liga MX. He is also of Mexican descent and has been called into a Mexico U17 training camp.
Standing 5 feet 4 inches tall, Dueñas has spent his young career transitioning between MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL Championship sides, and now Liga MX. He signed with Querétaro in December 2025 after a brief stint with Houston Dynamo 2, continuing a path that began in his hometown of Los Angeles.
Early Life and Background
Erik Dueñas was born on October 18, 2004, in Los Angeles, California. Growing up in one of the most soccer-rich regions of the United States, he joined the youth setup at Los Angeles FC, a club that had only begun MLS play in 2018. Dueñas was part of LAFC’s inaugural under-12 side, which placed him in an early generation of academy graduates for the expansion franchise.
Coming from a Mexican-American background, Dueñas grew up connected to the culture and football tradition of Mexico, even while developing within the U.S. club system. His progression through LAFC’s youth ranks signaled early promise, and the club rewarded that development with a professional contract at age 15.
Path to Soccer
Dueñas’s rise through LAFC’s academy put him in line with one of the league’s most ambitious development projects. On July 8, 2020, he became one of the first three homegrown signings in club history, alongside fellow Mexican-American teammates Christian Torres and Tony Leone. The announcement marked a significant milestone for a club that had launched only two years earlier.
His pathway to first-team action came quickly. Dueñas trained with senior players throughout the remainder of 2020 and earned a place in the matchday squad by autumn. At the international level, he was called up to a Mexico U17 training camp in February 2021, reflecting his eligibility for El Tri through his family heritage.
Erik Dueñas Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Dueñas made his professional debut for Los Angeles FC on October 14, 2020, in an MLS match against Vancouver Whitecaps. He entered the game as a 71st-minute substitute for Dejan Jakovic in a 2–1 defeat. The appearance made him one of the youngest players ever to feature for LAFC in league play.
In search of regular minutes, Dueñas was loaned to USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. The move allowed the young midfielder to gain experience as a starter in a senior professional environment, while remaining under contract with LAFC. He returned to the LAFC system afterward looking to push for more first-team opportunities.
Los Angeles FC 2 Era (2023–2024)
Following his time in Las Vegas, Dueñas was loaned to Los Angeles FC 2, the club’s developmental side competing in MLS NEXT Pro. The loan gave him the chance to play closer to home while continuing to sharpen his game in a professional setting. He spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns developing with LAFC 2, appearing regularly for the reserve team.
Although he was part of an LAFC organization that enjoyed deep playoff runs and lifted the MLS Cup trophy in 2022, his senior-team minutes were limited, and the loan arrangement was the primary avenue for game time. The arrangement ended after the 2024 season, opening the door for a new chapter.
Houston Dynamo 2 Era (2025)
After the 2024 MLS season, Houston claimed Dueñas off waivers, signaling a fresh start for the midfielder. In January 2025, he signed a one-year contract with Houston Dynamo 2 that included club options for the following three years. The deal represented an opportunity to reset his career within a new organization.
Dueñas spent the 2025 season with Houston Dynamo 2 in MLS NEXT Pro, working to earn a path back to a senior MLS roster. Following the campaign, the club declined his contract option, making him a free agent heading into the winter transfer window.
Querétaro Era (2025–Present)
On December 28, 2025, Dueñas signed with Liga MX club Querétaro ahead of the Clausura tournament. The move marked his first professional contract outside of the United States soccer pyramid and represented an opportunity to compete in one of North America’s top domestic leagues. He was assigned shirt number 18 by the club.
The transfer to Querétaro completed a rapid late-2025 sequence that took him from Houston’s organization to Mexico in a matter of weeks. It also aligned with his Mexican heritage, giving him the chance to play in the country of his family’s roots.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dueñas’s most notable milestone came on July 8, 2020, when he was announced as one of LAFC’s first three homegrown signings, alongside Christian Torres and Tony Leone. His professional debut on October 14, 2020, against Vancouver Whitecaps marked him as one of the youngest players in LAFC history. His February 2021 call-up to a Mexico U17 training camp highlighted his international recognition, and his December 2025 move to Querétaro represented his first foray into Liga MX.
Erik Dueñas Career Statistics
Los Angeles FC Highlights
Dueñas made one senior appearance for Los Angeles FC, his MLS debut on October 14, 2020. Although his first-team opportunities were limited, his homegrown status secured him a permanent place in the club’s history as one of its earliest academy graduates to sign a professional deal.
Other Performances
Dueñas gained lower-division experience with Las Vegas Lights in 2021 and 2022, and with Los Angeles FC 2 in 2023 and 2024, before spending the 2025 season with Houston Dynamo 2. He signed with Querétaro on December 28, 2025.
Erik Dueñas Family
Family Background and Heritage
Erik Dueñas was raised in Los Angeles, California, in a Mexican-American household. His dual heritage has shaped his international career path, as he was called up to a Mexico U17 training camp in February 2021 despite being born and raised in the United States.
Personal Life
Dueñas is known publicly through his professional career and his presence on social media, where he shares updates under the handle erikduenas2. He continues to focus on his development as a midfielder in Liga MX with Querétaro.
2025 Season Performance
Erik Dueñas began 2025 with Houston Dynamo 2 after being claimed off waivers by Houston following the 2024 MLS season. He signed a one-year deal with club options in January and spent the year competing in MLS NEXT Pro. The season was a transitional one, with Dueñas working to earn a place in a new organization after several years in the LAFC system.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, Houston declined his contract option, putting him into the open market. Within weeks, on December 28, 2025, he signed with Liga MX side Querétaro ahead of the Clausura tournament, securing his first contract outside the U.S. domestic pyramid. The late-year move offered a reset for the 21-year-old midfielder.
Heading into 2025, Dueñas’s outlook centered on rebuilding momentum in Houston, but the final chapter of the year redirected his career to Mexico. His move to Querétaro provides a new platform to showcase his abilities in Liga MX and represents an important step in his development as a young American professional.