CHICAGO (Oct. 27, 2021) --The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team will return to action for its first training camp under new head coach Gonzalo Segaresfrom Nov. 1-8 at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The camp kicks off the 2022-23 cycle, which culminates with the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006 are eligible for this World Cup cycle and Segares has called in 35 players born in 2006 and one born in 2007-forward Diego Rocio. Many players participated in BioSteel YNT Regional Identification Centers over the past year --one-day sessions that bring together top prospects in their home regions.
U-17 USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN) -NOVEMBER TRAINING CAMP
GOALKEEPERS (4): Ryan Carney (New England Revolution; Dunstable, Mass.), Fernando Delgado (Real Salt Lake; Glendale, Ariz.), Julian Eyestone (FC Dallas, Dallas, Texas), Nicholas Holliday (North Carolina FC; Chapel Hill, N.C.)
DEFENDERS (10): Brian Alanis (Houston Dynamo FC; Houston, Texas), John Andrus (Philadelphia Union; Fallston, Md.), Riley Delgado (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Aaron Deppe (Chicago Fire FC; Coopersville, Mich.), Christian Diaz (Los Angeles Football Club; San Bernadino, Calif.), Tyler Hall (Inter Miami CF; Miramar, Fla.), Gershon Henry (Real Salt Lake; Portage, Mich.), Christian Metelitasa (De Anza Force SC; San Mateo, Calif.), Javen Romero (Los Angeles Football Club; Los Angeles, Calif.), Oscar Verhoeven (San Jose Earthquakes; Pleasant Hill, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Edgar Bazan (Sporting Kansas City; Overland Park, Kan.), Adrian Gill (FC Barcelona/ESP; Denver, Colo.), Aaron Heard (St. Louis City FC; Fairfax, Va.), Cruz Medina (San Jose Earthquakes; San Francisco, Calif.), Edwyn Mendoza (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Luis Moreno (Houston Dynamo FC; Houston, Texas), Tamir Ratovitz (Los Angeles Football Club; Los Angeles, Calif.), Matthew Schenfeld (FC Cincinnati; Louisville, Ky.), David Vazquez (Total Futbol Academy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Jude Wellings (Real Salt Lake; Birmingham, Mich.), Milo Wray (Portland Timbers; Portland, Ore.)
FORWARDS (11): Moises Arciniega (Barca Residency Academy; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Fidel Barajas (San Jose Earthquakes; Sacramento, Calif.), Micah Burton (Austin FC; Mounds View, Minn.), Bajung Darboe (Philadelphia Union; Sun Prairie, Wisc.), Andre Gitau (Houston Dynamo FC; Richmond, Texas), Michael Luande (Seattle Sounders FC; Puyalluo, Wash.), Christopher Olney Jr. (Philadelphia Union; Hillsborough, N.J.), Diego Rocio (Philadelphia Union; Escondido, Calif.), Paolo Rudisill (LA Galaxy; Irvine, Calif.), Zion Vaughn (Real Salt Lake AZ; Chandler, Ariz.), Luke Zielinski (Philadelphia Union; Weston, Conn.).
This event marks the U-17 USMNT’s first traditional training camp since the team participated in a February 2020 UEFA Development Tournament in England, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought the sporting world to a halt. The 2021 Concacaf U-17 Championship and 2021 FIFA U-17 World Cup were canceled due to the pandemic.
While players on the roster are just 14 and 15 years old, three already have professional experience in the United Soccer League. Earlier this month, goalkeeper Fernando Delgadodebuted with the Real Monarchs as the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a professional match. Defender Javen Romero also played three games this summer with the Las Vegas Lightsin the USL Championship. Goalkeeper Nicholas Holliday has made five appearances this season with North Carolina FC in USL League One and his June debut saw him become the youngest player to appear for an independent club in the league.
The roster also features a number of stand-outs from last year’s inaugural MLS NEXT campaign, which followed the U.S. Soccer Development Academy as the country’s highest level of youth soccer. Forward Paulo Rudisill won the Golden Ball as the best U-15 player of the 2020-21 season, while midfielder Cruz Medina won the postseason Golden Ball as best U-15 player at the 2021 MLS NEXT Cup. Real Salt Lake took home the inaugural U-15 national championship and three players from that team have been called to the U-17s-Delgado, defender Gershon Henry and midfielder Jude Wellings, who was named Player of the Match in the championship game.
Players come from a total of 22 clubs, with the Philadelphia Union leading the way with five selections. The lone European-based player is midfielder Adrian Gill, who currently plays in the FC Barcelona academy. Eighteen states are represented on the roster, with 12 players coming from California.
The training camp will be held in accordance with U.S. Soccer’s comprehensive Return to Play protocols. U.S. Soccer requires all staff and players be fully vaccinated in order to attend USYNT training camps. As a leader in the sport, the health and safety of all participants is the top priority for the Federation.
