CHICAGO (April 17, 2023) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Youth National Team will hold its first training camp since qualifying to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup this week in Palm Beach, Fla. Head coach Gonzalo Segares has called up 23 players from April 17-24 as the USA continues its preparation for the World Cup, scheduled for November/December.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006 are age-eligible for this year’s World Cup. Segares called up 18 players born in 2006, four born in 2007 and one born in 2008: Charlotte FC forward Nimfasha Berchimas.
GOALKEEPERS (3): Adam Beaudry (Colorado Rapids; Castle Pines, Colo.), Julian Eyestone (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Andrew Rick (Philadelphia Union; Berwyn, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (8): Matai Akinmboni (D.C. United; Upper Marlboro, Md.), Noahkai Banks (Augsburg/GER; Dietmannsried, Germany), Christian Diaz (Los Angeles FC; San Bernardino, Calif.), Sawyer Jura (Portland Timbers; Bend, Ore.), Shawn Lanza (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; Unionville, Conn.), Adrian Pelayo (Portland Timbers; Stayton, Ore.), Tahir Reid-Brown (Orlando City SC; Orlando, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Christopher Aquino (Seattle Sounders FC; Pasco, Wash.), Alejandro Granados (Orlando City SC; Alicante, Spain), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew SC; Columbus, Ohio), Aaron Heard (St. Louis City SC; Fairfax, Va.), Edwyn Mendoza (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Santiago Morales (Inter Miami CF; Weston, Fla.)
FORWARDS (6): Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC; High Point, N.C.), Brian Romero (Charlotte FC; Concord, N.C.), Bryce Jamison (Orange County SC; Lake Forest, Calif.), Christopher Olney (Philadelphia Union; Hillsborough, N.J.), Ruben Ramos Jr. (LA Galaxy; La Puente, Calif.), Ezekiel Soto (Houston Dynamo FC; Menifee, Calif.)
The U.S. was one of four teams to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup at February’s Concacaf U-17 Championship in Guatemala. The World Cup was initially set to be held in Peru, but FIFA withdrew the nation’s hosting rights earlier this month. The tournament is still on track to take place as scheduled from Nov. 10-Dec. 2.
Eight players return from the World Cup qualifying roster: goalkeeper Adam Beaudry, defenders Christian Diaz and Sawyer Jura, midfielders Christopher Aquino, Taha Habroune and Edwyn Mendoza plus forwards Brian Romero and Ezekiel Soto. Habroune netted three goals in Guatemala, while midfielder Christopher Aquino and forward Ezekiel Soto each scored twice during the World Cup qualifying campaign. Goalkeeper Julian Eyestone, defender Noahki Banks and midfielder Santiago Morales trained with the U-17s as alternates ahead of the Concacaf Championship.
Six players have been called up for their first U-17 training camp: goalkeeper Andrew Rick, defenders Shawn Lanza, Peyton Miller, Adrian Pelayo and Tahir Reid-Brown as well as forward Berchimas.
Nineteen clubs are represented on the roster, including 17 Major League Soccer academies. Two players each come from Charlotte FC, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union and Portland Timbers, while Banks is the lone player based abroad, at Augsburg in Germany. The players hail from 14 different states, led by five from California.