Ted Ku-DiPietro Bio
Theodore “Ted” Ku-DiPietro (born January 28, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Standing 178 centimeters tall, he has built his early professional reputation as a creative, attack-minded midfielder capable of contributing goals and assists from central areas of the pitch.
After progressing through the youth system of D.C. United and spending formative seasons with the club’s United Soccer League affiliate Loudoun United FC, Ku-DiPietro became a first-team contributor at Audi Field before completing a move to Colorado. His combination of technical quality and composure in front of goal has marked him as one of the more intriguing young American midfielders of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Ted Ku-DiPietro was born on January 28, 2002, in Oakton, Virginia, in the United States. He grew up in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and attended Oakton High School in nearby Vienna, Virginia, where he quickly established himself as one of the top youth soccer players in the region.
As a sophomore in 2018, Ku-DiPietro was named first-team all-state, recognition that underlined his status among the leading high school talents in Virginia. He was born into a large family of nine children, six of whom, including himself, have played soccer at least at the youth level, a sporting environment that helped shape his competitive approach to the game.
Ku-DiPietro is of Chinese descent through his mother and Polish and German descent through his father. The surname DiPietro comes from his adoptive Italian grandfather, a detail that reflects the blended family heritage behind his hyphenated last name.
Path to Soccer
Ku-DiPietro’s route toward a professional career began within the D.C. United academy, one of the most established development pipelines in Major League Soccer. His standout high school performances earned him a pathway into the organization, and he signed a professional deal that positioned him for senior minutes with the club’s second team.
He made his professional debut with Loudoun United FC, D.C. United’s United Soccer League side, on June 28, 2019, in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2. That first appearance launched a three-season development arc in which Ku-DiPietro logged consistent minutes and refined the traits that would later earn him a first-team contract.
Ted Ku-DiPietro Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Ku-DiPietro’s first three professional seasons were spent with Loudoun United FC, where he served as a regular attacking option from midfield. He scored his first professional goal on September 25, 2019, finishing in the 68th minute of a 4-1 win over Swope Park Rangers, the same match in which he received his first red card, a memorable early chapter in his development.
On January 7, 2020, Ku-DiPietro signed his first professional contract with Loudoun, formalizing his status within the D.C. United organization. Across his Loudoun tenure, which ran from 2019 to 2022, he accumulated valuable minutes in a competitive second-tier environment and prepared himself for the step up to Major League Soccer.
D.C. United Era (2022-2024)
After three seasons with Loudoun, Ku-DiPietro became the 17th homegrown player to sign a first-team contract with D.C. United, a milestone that reflected both his academy roots and his on-field progress. The move positioned him to test himself against top-flight opposition on a weekly basis at Audi Field.
Ku-DiPietro announced himself to the Major League Soccer audience in emphatic fashion in the opening match of the 2023 season. Coming on as a second-half substitute against Toronto, he assisted Christian Benteke’s 90th-minute equalizer before scoring the game-winning goal in a 3-2 comeback victory, a performance that earned him a place on Major League Soccer’s Team of the Matchday for week one.
Across his time with D.C. United from 2022 to 2024, Ku-DiPietro continued to grow into a reliable midfield contributor, offering creativity, late runs into the box, and a calm finishing touch. His progression established him as a homegrown success story for one of the league’s most tradition-rich clubs.
Colorado Rapids Era (2025-Present)
Ku-DiPietro’s next chapter began with a move to the Colorado Rapids, where he was assigned to Colorado Rapids 2 starting in 2025 as part of his transition to the Western Conference club. The transfer marked a fresh start in a new market and a new tactical environment under the Rapids’ coaching staff.
The move gave Ku-DiPietro an opportunity to compete for first-team minutes at altitude while bringing his creative profile to a Colorado midfield in need of inventive ball progression. His early contributions in 2025 have been oriented around establishing himself as a regular option within the matchday squad.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ku-DiPietro operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, using his low center of gravity, sharp footwork, and calm finishing to influence games in and around the penalty area. He is comfortable receiving between the lines, arriving late into the box, and combining with strikers through quick one-touch passing, traits that allowed him to deliver both a goal and an assist in his Major League Soccer debut for D.C. United.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Ku-DiPietro’s late-game-winning goal and assist combination against Toronto on opening day of the 2023 Major League Soccer season stands out, as does his selection to the league’s Team of the Matchday for that performance. His selection to the United States U-23 squad for the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile, where he scored his first international goal in a 2-1 comeback win over Honduras, marked another milestone in his rise.
Ted Ku-DiPietro Career Wins
Across his professional career, Ted Ku-DiPietro has collected wins at the second-tier level with Loudoun United FC, recorded memorable results with D.C. United in Major League Soccer, and added an international victory with the United States U-23 team at the 2023 Pan American Games. His win totals reflect steady progression from a developmental role into a match-defining contributor.
D.C. United Highlights
Ku-DiPietro’s biggest individual moment in a D.C. United shirt came on opening day of the 2023 Major League Soccer season, when he scored the game-winner and assisted the equalizer in a 3-2 comeback victory over Toronto. The performance earned him a spot on the league’s Team of the Matchday and signaled his readiness for a larger role with the club.
Other Wins and Performances
With Loudoun United FC, Ku-DiPietro was part of multiple victories between 2019 and 2022, including his professional debut in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United 2 on June 28, 2019, and a 4-1 win over Swope Park Rangers in which he scored his first professional goal. Internationally, he helped the United States U-23 team stage a 2-1 comeback over Honduras at the 2023 Pan American Games, a result that delivered his first international goal.
Ted Ku-DiPietro Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Ted Ku-DiPietro was born into a family of nine children, six of whom have played soccer at least at the youth level, giving him a deeply competitive upbringing shaped by constant matches against siblings. His older brother, Michael, played for the Marymount Saints men’s soccer team before graduating with a Business Administration degree, continuing the family’s connection to the sport.
His younger sister, Hope, signed a letter of intent to play with the George Washington Colonials women’s soccer team for the Fall 2023 season, extending the family’s presence in college soccer. The household’s blend of athletic support and high-level competition helped lay the foundation for Ted’s professional career.
Personal Life
Ku-DiPietro’s cultural background reflects his mother’s Chinese heritage and his father’s Polish and German roots, along with the Italian surname DiPietro carried by his adoptive Italian grandfather. He is an American by nationality and was raised in Oakton, Virginia, before pursuing his professional soccer career in the United States soccer pyramid.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Ted Ku-DiPietro’s first campaign as a Colorado Rapids player, after being assigned to Colorado Rapids 2 as part of his integration into the club. His early role has combined reserve-team minutes with the opportunity to push for selection in the senior squad, a structure familiar from his D.C. United academy days.
For the Rapids, Ku-DiPietro profiles as an attacking midfield option capable of unlocking compact defensive blocks with late runs and clever combinations in the final third. The club’s investment in his development suggests a pathway toward regular Major League Soccer minutes as the season progresses.
Heading into the remainder of 2025, Ku-DiPietro’s outlook centers on translating his D.C. United form, including his opening-day heroics against Toronto, into consistent production in a Colorado shirt. Continued growth with Colorado Rapids 2 and first-team opportunities would mark a successful adaptation to his new environment.