Bernard Kamungo

Bernard Kamungo (born January 1, 2002) is a professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club FC Dallas. Born a Congolese refugee in Tanzania, he represents the United States national team.

Bernard Kamungo

Personal information
Date of birth	(2002-01-01) January 1, 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth	Kasulu, Tanzania
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	FC Dallas
Number	77
Youth career
2017–2021	Abilene High School
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	North Texas SC	52	(22)
2022–	FC Dallas	36	(6)
International career‡
2023	United States U23	4	(0)
2024–	United States	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 2, 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 20, 2024

Club career

Born in Kasulu, Kamungo and his family had lived in a refugee camp after his parents fled Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[1] In 2016, they were relocated to the United States and settle in Abilene, Texas.^[2] After moving to the United States, Kamungo was a member of the Abilene High School soccer team, the Abilene Eagles, and played under head coach Kyle Riese.^[2] Following his graduation from high school, Kamungo, alongside his brother Imani, began searching online for potential tryouts for Bernard. After seeing tryouts elsewhere with participation fees as high as $500, Imani found a tryout with North Texas SC, the reserve team for MLS side FC Dallas, for only a $90 fee.^[2] During that January 2021 trial, Kamungo impressed North Texas head coach Eric Quill and was signed to a professional contract on March 25.^[3]

On April 24, 2021, Kamungo made his debut against Fort Lauderdale CF, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Hope Avayevu. Eight minutes after coming onto the pitch, Kamungo scored his first professional goal as the match would end in a 4–2 victory.^[4]

On August 30, 2022, Kamungo signed a four-year contract with FC Dallas.^[5]

On April 15, 2023, he scored his first goal against Real Salt Lake in the 88th minute, which turned out to be the winning goal in a 2–1 FC Dallas victory.

On January 7, 2025, Kamungo signed a three-year contract with FC Dallas, with club options for 2028 and 2029.^[6]

International career

Kamungo received his first call-up to the Tanzania national team in June 2023 for a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Niger.^[7]

On October 8, 2023, Kamungo was called up to the United States under-23 national team ahead of friendlies against Mexico and Japan.^[8]

Kamungo made his debut for the senior United States national team on January 20, 2024, in a friendly against Slovenia.^[9]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played June 2, 2024^[10]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
North Texas SC	2021	USL League One	23	6	—		—		—		—		23	6
	2022	MLS Next Pro	25	16	—		—		—		—		25	16
	2023	MLS Next Pro	4	0	—		—		—		—		4	0
Total			52	22	–		–		–		–		52	22
FC Dallas	2022	MLS	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
	2023		16	6	1	0	3	0	—		4[c]	2	24	8
	2024		19	0	—		—		—		—		19	0
	Total		36	6	1	0	3	0	0	0	4	2	44	8
Career total			88	28	1	0	3	0	0	0	4	2	96	30

1. Includes U.S. Open Cup
2. Includes MLS Cup Playoffs
3. Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played January 20, 2024^[11]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States	2024	1	0
Total		1	0

References

1. "He grew up in a refugee camp. Now he's on the rise with the USMNT". The Washington Post.
2. Arnold, John (April 20, 2021). "Tanzania to Texas to tryout: Bernard Kamungo came to North Texas SC, and they're glad he did". The Striker Texas. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
3. Carrick, Buzz (March 25, 2021). "North Texas SC signs open trialist Bernard Kamungo". 3rd Degree. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
4. "North Texas SC 4–2 Fort Lauderdale CF". Soccerway.
5. "FC Dallas Signs Forward Bernard Kamungo". FCDallas.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
6. "FC Dallas Signs Bernard Kamungo to Contract Extension". FCDallas.com. FC Dallas. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
7. "Bernard Kamunga Called into National Team Duty for Tanzania". FC Dallas. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
8. "Twenty-Three Players Called to U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix". ussoccer.com. October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
9. "USA v Slovenia game report". ESPN. January 20, 2024.
10. Bernard Kamungo at Soccerway
11. Bernard Kamungo at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Bernard Kamungo at FC Dallas
• Bernard Kamungo at Major League Soccer
• Bernard Kamungo at U.S. Soccer