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BEHIND THE STRIPES

The Gómez Family

By Atlanta United FC

May 7^th, 2025

Camila Gómez wore the weight of history on the back of her jersey in five letters. All her immediate family were in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday afternoon to watch her play for Atlanta United Unified. Her father Fernando Sr., mother Carolina and brother Fernando Jr. were in the stands as she took her first paces out on the pitch.

As he does every game, Fernando Jr. blew his sister a kiss.

Taking the field, she followed in the footsteps of her older brother. Fernando Jr., who has an intellectual and developmental disability, played for Atlanta United Unified for three years. Yet, in that moment, it wasn’t just her brother’s history she was writing. It was her entire family’s.

The moment was a crowning familial achievement and the culmination of decades of sacrifice. It goes all the way back to their hometown of Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, where their family began.

“We’ve been a family that has fought quite a lot,” Fernando Sr. said. “Each achievement, each little step is formed in blood, sweat and tears.”

Family formation in Venezuela

Fernando Jose Gómez Cardona and Maria Carolina Gómez Cardona had a truly one-of-a-kind introduction.

Carolina was buying a cigarette at a bar near their university. She was looking for a specific brand, the one Fernando happened to sell, but the place didn’t have it. She bought another brand, not thinking twice about it, when all the sudden Fernando appeared. He took the cigarette out of her mouth and broke it in half.

“My future wife doesn’t smoke my competition,” he said.

She gasped.

“What’s wrong with you? How am I going to marry you?” she said.

Four months later, Carolina and Fernando. were married. Carolina said it would’ve been two if her mother didn’t make her wait to plan the wedding.

It was nearly instant love in what was quite the beautiful setting. The two remember Puerto La Cruz for the crystal-clear waters of the ocean, pristine beaches, Mochima National Park, a beautiful climate.

Raising children in that city seemed just right. They had a boy and a girl, Fernando Andrés and Camila Carolina, surrounding them with love and family.

“Life in Venezuela was like freedom,” Camila said. “It was just so colorful to me. I remember Venezuela a lot with happiness.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

To this day, both Camila and Fernando Jr. have fond memories of their home country. But, around the time they were forming themselves in their youth, their country fell into instability with an economic crisis. It took a world-class parenting job from Fernando Sr. and Carolina to shield their children from the harsh realities of violence around them.

“We lived in a moment of much tension, sadness, desolation,” Fernando Sr. said.

Camila recalled a specific memory of her father making her trip back from school a race to see who could get home the fastest, hurrying past the protests in the streets.

Fernando Sr. had an even more harrowing story. He remembered watching “Life is Beautiful”, a Holocaust film where a father uses his imagination to preserve his son’s childhood innocence while in a concentration camp.

“I literally practiced that with Camila,” he said. “Camila was in a course to learn English there in Venezuela. I would take her because the vehicles couldn’t travel [on the streets] because they were blocked due to the protests … On this side, there were protests and gunshots, and I would take Camila and make her look to the other side where nothing was happening. Those were hard times.”

Moving to the U.S. and finding football

The decision to leave their lifelong home and their family there was full of uncertainty and sacrifice. Fernando Sr. and Carolina worked long hours at jobs to make ends meet in the States.

“It’s a blessing,” Carolina said. “It doesn’t matter to me what time I have to get up for work … We came here, above all, for them. We put 20 years in two suitcases.”

They hoped Fernando Jr. and Camila would be afforded opportunities they wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else, in the form of education and experiences. It was particularly important for Fernando Jr., as the infrastructure around special education in the United States provided him more opportunity to thrive.

“My parents pretty much left everything behind so they could give my brother and I a good life,” Camila said. “They were raised there, and they were willing to give that up for me and my brother to have a better future.”

“My parents pretty much left everything behind so they could give my brother and I a good life.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Fernando Jr. and Camila being drawn to football was only a matter of time. It comes from their father.

“Since I was a kid, first I played football where I grew up,” Fernando Sr. said. “… It’s a passion that I carry inside of me from my brothers. Football was always present in my house, in my friends, in my surroundings. Everything was surrounded by football.”

That love didn’t leave his household. Fernando Jr. followed football religiously too, but he wanted to get involved even further. He wanted to be out on the pitch too.

Unified gave him that chance. His tryout was one of his first experiences with organized football.

“I remember that those were the best moments,” Fernando Jr. said. “I played so well that, thank God, they saw me, and that was another step to where I am now.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

MLS Unified squads are comprised of special Olympics athletes, individuals with developmental disabilities, and partners, individuals without developmental disabilities. Games are typically 60 minutes with free substitutions, allowing all of the athletes to showcase their skills.

Fernando Jr. went on to represent Atlanta United in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Unified experience is just the same as the first team professionals — training, traveling, matches.

“I've always been very protective of my brother, especially because in Venezuela, he never had opportunities like the United States has given us,” Camila said. “We're grateful for that.”

It’s a profoundly inclusive space for people from all around the world to come together and celebrate the beautiful game. Fernando Jr.’s debut was more than powerful for his mother, the woman who gave so much for her son to have that opportunity.

“It was magical because inclusion existed,” Carolina said. “When I saw Fernando [Jr.] in that line, among so many marvelous, unique children, I cried. [I said], ‘My God, they’re included.’ … They’re giving my son the value he needs and deserves to have.”

"It was magical because inclusion existed ... They're giving my son the value he needs and deserves to have."

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Camila saw just what Unified did for her older brother — how happy he was after the trips, how much fun he had bonding with teammates and playing in matches. She knew that she wanted to be a part of that experience. Even though Fernando Jr. was aged out of the team, she signed up to be a partner for the 2024 season, carrying on the Gómez legacy for the 5-Stripes.

Prideful folks

Ask any of the four Gómez’s about the Unified experience, and their face will light up. They were so excited to talk about it, in fact, that they hosted a function for Atlanta United’s video and media team. They cooked Venezuelan food, tequeños and pastelitos. Carolina, a percussionist, played her drum while Fernando Sr. sang.

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

The Gómez family is so proud — proud of each other, proud of their culture, proud of their story.

Fernando Sr. recalled feeling that sense of pride on one of his first nights living in the 404.

“When we arrived here, I went to downtown Atlanta,” he said. “I saw Mercedes-Benz and said ‘Wow.’ … and there’s a Venezuelan that plays there.”

17s might know which Venezolano he’s talking about. Josef Martínez, Atlanta United’s all-time leading scorer, gave the Gómez family and Venezuelans everywhere plenty to be proud of.

Little did Fernando Sr. know, his son would get the chance to meet Martínez himself. The two Atlanta United players bonded over their heritage and love for the game they play.

“That was my first encounter with someone as great as Josef Martínez,” Fernando Jr. said. “I was super happy. We matched in that moment.”

For a father whose life revolves around football, seeing his two children representing a professional club is nothing short of surreal.

“Thanks be to God, my two children are on the best team in MLS in Atlanta United,” Fernando Sr. said. “God brought me on this path all the way here as a reward that I have as a father.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Unified as a family

If nothing else, the Gómez family is incredibly close. They’ve been through everything together — a cross-continent move, adjusting to a new country, adapting to new ways of life. And they wouldn’t change a thing.

Fernando Sr. and Carolina are seeing the fruits of their labor come to fruition in the form of their children. It’s sweeter than they ever could’ve imagined.

“To see how [the children] are growing, to see how they get what they have always dreamed of, for us it’s a blessing,” Carolina said. “The country definitely demands, but as it demands, it gives. We’re convinced of that, and we give so much thanks to God because it was the best decision we’ve made.”

Fernando Sr. and Carolina’s unabashed love for their children, and Fernando Jr. and Camila’s reciprocal love for their parents, is a sight to behold. It’s hard not to get misty-eyed when they speak about each other and their development as people.

"To see how [the children] are growing, to see how they get what they have always dreamed of, for us it's a blessing."

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Fernando Jr.’s defining trait, as everyone in the family agrees, is his happiness. His sister called him the most positive person she’s ever met. His father congratulated him for everything he’s achieved, saying his son sometimes has a better understanding of society than he does and teaches him many things.

“He shows the world that limits don’t exist,” Carolina said, “and what he sets out to do, he achieves.”

Camila is family royalty. Literally.

“My sister has been like my princess,” Fernando Jr. said., “[She’s] everything that is beautiful.”

“Camila is definitely the princess of our dreams, the daughter we dreamed of,” Carolina said. “… I tell her, ‘Wherever you stand, stand knowing you are Camila Gómez.’ The winner, the leader.”

Camila and Fernando Jr. found another family in Unified. The people they’ve met through the team will be with them throughout their lives. Camila said coach Marty Jelleme and his folks have been like a second family to her.

“[Unified] expanded our borders,” Camila said. “… I love it so much, and it’s meant a lot to us.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Writing the Gómez story

Camila and the rest of the Unified squad have plenty to look forward to this season. This year, Atlanta United Unified will make its first international trip when they face Toronto FC Unified July 12.

Camila’s 2025 debut May 3 was impressive, playing in defense and helping the 5-Stripes keep a clean sheet. Their next fixture is less than a week away, a road trip to Texas to take on Austin FC Unified Wednesday, May 14.

Before Camila even took one step on the field this season, her older brother was just gleaming at the thought of her success.

“What I’m going to feel is pride, she always makes me proud,” Fernando Jr. said. “Happy for how far she has come.”

With each game she plays, Camila is continuing the legacy of the Gómez family.

“Fernando kept it for so long, and now it's my turn to keep our last name on the team,” Camila said. “It's definitely been a big accomplishment in our family that we've both been able to see each other experience these big things.”

BEHIND THE STRIPES

Footnotes

Story by Adam Jasper / Feature photos by Sofia Cupertino / Additional photos by Julian Alexander, Matthew Dingle, Jacob Gonzales, Karl Moore / Translation of quotes from Fernando Sr., Carolina and Fernando Jr. by Holly Duque, Adam Jasper

FootNotes

Story by Adam Jasper / Feature photos by Sofia Cupertino / Additional photos by Julian Alexander, Matthew Dingle, Jacob Gonzales, Karl Moore / Translation of quotes from Fernando Sr., Carolina and Fernando Jr. by Holly Duque, Adam Jasper

© 2026 Atlanta United FC

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