{{Short description|American soccer player}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Dida Armstrong | image = | caption = | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|4|6}} | birth_place = [[Rutherfordton, North Carolina]], United States | height = 5 ft 11 in | position = Defender | currentclub = [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]] | clubnumber = 77 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2022–2025 | clubs1 = [[St. Louis City 2]] | caps1 = 62 | goals1 = 4 | years2 = 2026– | clubs2 = [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]] | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = }}
'''Dida Armstrong''' is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for [[USL Championship]] club [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]].
== Early life and education == Dida Armstrong was born on April 6, 2004<ref>{{cite web | title=Dida Armstrong | website=mlsnextpro | date=April 9, 2025 | url=https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/dida-armstrong/ | access-date=February 22, 2026| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250419113406/https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/dida-armstrong/ |archive-date= 19 April 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> in [[Rutherfordton, North Carolina]].<ref name="STLAmerican"/> He comes from a family with connections to professional soccer. His father, [[Desmond Armstrong|Desmond]], is a former [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] defender, who was the first U.S.-born Black player to appear in a [[FIFA World Cup]], and was inducted into the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]] in 2012.<ref name=usl2025/> Dida's brother [[Ezra Armstrong|Ezra]], is also a professional player.<ref name="FTU"/>
Armstrong played soccer in high school while at the STEM Preparatory Academy in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name="FTU">{{cite web |last1=Freeman |first1=Clayton |title=Sporting Jax men begin with UNF striker, second-generation defender |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/2025/12/15/sporting-jax-first-mens-soccer-signings-dida-armstrong-luc-granitur/87769276007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115101p000250c000250d00----v115101d--51--b--51--&gca-ft=244&gca-ds=sophi |website=Jacksonville.com |publisher=The Florida Times-Union |access-date=15 December 2025|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
== Club career == === St. Louis City 2 === Armstrong joined [[St. Louis City 2]], the [[MLS Next Pro]] affiliate of [[St. Louis City SC]], in 2022. He has made multiple appearances for the club, playing primarily as a forward. By 2025, Armstrong had featured in over 60 matches and scored several goals in league competition.<ref name="FTU"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Freeman | first=Clayton | title=Sporting Jax first men's soccer signings Dida Armstrong, Luc Granitur | website=Jacksonville News | date=December 15, 2025 | url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/2025/12/15/sporting-jax-first-mens-soccer-signings-dida-armstrong-luc-granitur/87769276007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=false&gca-epti=z110201p000250c000250v110201&gca-ft=130&gca-ds=sophi&gnt-djm=1 | access-date=February 22, 2026}}</ref>
===Sporting JAX=== In December 2025, Armstrong was announced as one of the first two signings for the newly formed [[Sporting Club Jacksonville|Sporting JAX]] men's team, set to compete in the USL Championship beginning with the 2026 season. He was signed alongside forward [[Luc Granitur]], marking a key moment for the expansion club's inaugural roster. For his time with Sporting JAX, he will switch to a defensive role.<ref name="FTU"/><ref name=usl2025>{{cite web | title=Sporting Club Jacksonville unveils Dida Armstrong, Luc Granitur as first signings | website=USL Championship | date=December 20, 2025 | url=https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1352107 | access-date=February 22, 2026}}</ref>
==Media appearances== Armstrong appeared as a contestant on ''[[Fear Factor#Fox reboot (2026)|Fear Factor: House of Fear]]'', a reboot of the reality competition series that premiered on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] on January 14. Armstrong was one of 14 contestants competing in fear-based challenges filmed in a remote location in [[Canada]] and hosted by [[Johnny Knoxville]], with a $200,000 grand prize at stake. He lost <ref name="STLAmerican">{{cite web |last1=Mac |first1=Zaria |title=From the pitch to primetime |url=https://www.stlamerican.com/arts-and-entertainment/living-it-arts-and-entertainment/from-the-pitch-to-primetime/ |website=STLAmerican.com |publisher=St. Louis American |access-date=16 January 2026 |date=9 January 2026}}</ref>
== Personal life == Armstrong supports [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] and is an avid [[gamer]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ep 17: Sideline Sitdown with Dida Armstrong |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5eS0HF9h9U |website=YouTube.com |publisher=CITY Refs |access-date=29 January 2026}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.stlcitysc.com/players/dida-armstrong/ Official St. Louis CITY 2 profile]
{{Sporting Club Jacksonville squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Armstrong, Dida}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Rutherfordton, North Carolina]] [[Category:Soccer players from North Carolina]] [[Category:American men's soccer players]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Men's association football defenders]] [[Category:St. Louis City 2 players]] [[Category:MLS Next Pro players]] [[Category:Sporting Club Jacksonville players]] [[Category:USL Championship players]] [[Category:2004 births]]