U-15 MYNT Set to Take on Host Portugal Italy and Scotland at UEFA Development Tournament in Lisbon

CHICAGO (Nov. 24, 2023) – The U.S. Under-15 Men’s Youth National Team will face host nation Portugal, Italy and Scotland at a UEFA Development Tournament at Cidade de Futebol, Portugal’s national training center. The training camp, set for Nov. 25-Dec. 6, is the second of the 2024-25 cycle for the U-15 MYNT.

As one of U.S. Soccer’s youngest Youth National Teams, the U-15s serve an important role in the Federation’s mission to develop winning teams by helping build the foundation of the MYNT player pool.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2009 are age-eligible for this U-15 MYNT cycle, running from Aug. 1-July 31 to parallel the youth club soccer calendar. U-15 MYNT head coach Tom Heinemann selected 18 players born in 2009 and two born in 2010- Boston Bolts FC midfielder William Recupero and Chicago Fire FC midfielder Robert Turdean.

Twelve clubs are represented on the roster, including 10 from Major League Soccer. Five players were called up from the New York Red Bulls, while four come from LA Galaxy. A number of the New York Red Bulls players were a part of the team’s 2023 MLS Next Cup U-15 championship run last summer. One player is based internationally- Real Madrid defender Manuel Romero.

U-15 MYNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB) – UEFA DEVELOPMENT TOURNAMENT

GOALKEEPERS (2): James Donaldson (Atlanta United FC; Woodstock, Ga.), Tobias Szewczyk (New York Red Bulls; Morristown, N.J.)

DEFENDERS (6): Edward Chadwick (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Liam Devan (Nashville SC; Nashville, Tenn.), Tyson Espy (LAFC; Dana Point, Calif.), Alex Gomez (New York Red Bulls; Dover, N.J.), Astin Mbaye (New York Red Bulls; Jersey City, N.J.), Manuel Romero (Real Madrid/ESP; Madrid, Spain)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Christopher Cook (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Joaquin Cunningham (LA Galaxy; Long Beach, CA), Adri Mehmeti (New York Red Bulls; Staten Island, N.Y.), William Recupero (FC Boston Bolts; Hopkinton, Mass.), Kaedren Spivey (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Robert Turdean (Chicago Fire FC; Niles, Ill.)

FORWARDS (6): Mathis Albert (LA Galaxy; El Segundo, CA), Mattheo Dimareli (Houston Dynamo FC; Houston, Texas), Omar Hassan (Seattle Sounders FC; Bellevue, Wash.), Paul Sokoloff (New York Red Bulls; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Maximus Steelman (LA Galaxy; Carlsbad, Calif.), Jorge Torres Perez (San Jose Earthquakes; Modesto, Calif.)

SCHEDULE - UEFA DEVELOPMENT TOURNAMENT

Thursday, Nov. 30 – Italy vs. Scotland – 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. local - Cidade de Futebol
Thursday, Nov. 30 – Portugal vs. USA – 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. local – Estadio Nacional
Saturday, Dec. 2 – USA vs. Italy – 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. local - Cidade de Futebol
Saturday, Dec. 2 – Portugal vs. Scotland – 11 a.m. ET /4 p.m. local - Estadio Nacional
Tuesday, Dec. 5 – Scotland vs. USA – 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. local - Cidade de Futebol
Tuesday, Dec. 5 – Portugal vs. Italy – 6 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. local - Cidade de Futebol

Seventeen players return from the U-15s’ first camp of the cycle in October, held in Southern California at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. The three players making their first appearance with the U-15s are Romero as well as forwards Mattheo Dimareli and Maximus Steelman.

UEFA launched its development tournament program in 2012 and the U.S. has participated in several competitions for both boys and girls across a number of age groups over the last several years. The tourneys feature special rules designed to bolster development, such as a minutes minimum for players.  The U-17 MYNT squad that recently wrapped its campaign at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup won a UEFA Development Tournament in Portugal in May 2022 against Belgium, Italy and the host nation.