Perez calls 24 players for domestic U-18 Men’s National Team camp
CHICAGO – U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team head coach Javier Perez has called 24 players for a 10-day training camp at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif., from April 4-13.
While in camp, the U.S. will play a pair of friendlies against the U-18 national teams of Canada on April 8 and Mexico on April 12. Canada and Mexico face off on April 10.
The camp is the first gathering of the U.S. U-18 MNT since it competed at the Copa del Atlantico in the Canary Islands in February when Minnesota Thunder product Mukwelle Akale was named the tournament’s best player.
In addition to Akale, six players from the Copa del Atlantico roster have been included for April’s training camp: goalkeepers Christian Herrera (Real Salt Lake AZ) and JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes), defender Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC) and midfielders Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake AZ), Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy) and Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder).
The roster features three newcomers to the U.S. Youth National Team program in Patrick Jean-Giles (D.C. United), Stephen Payne (Chicago Magic PSG) and Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire).
A handful of other players are joining the U-18s for the first time after previously participating in the Youth National Team program at younger age levels. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann (Irvine Strikers) comes in for his first camp since participating in a U-15 Boys’ National Team camp in October 2011 and Alex Ramos (LA Galaxy) receives his first call-up since participating in a U-17 Men’s National Team camp in March of 2013.
The squad’s only foreign-based player, Kyle Scott (Chelsea), returns to the U-18s for the first time since helping the team claim second place at the Limoges tournament in France last October.
After the April camp, the U-18s will next convene at the end of May for the Lisbon International Tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Christian Herrera (Real Salt Lake AZ; Las Cruces, N.M.), Jonathan Klinsmann (Irvine Strikers; Newport Beach, Calif.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; Alamo, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (8): David Chavez (De Anza Force; Redwood City, Calif.), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake AZ; Tucson, Ariz.), Malcolm Jones (LA Galaxy; Chino Hills, Calif.), Quentin Pearson (Colorado Rapids; Longmont, Colo.), Pablo Pelaez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.), Alex Ramos (LA Galaxy; Reseda, Calif.), Tommy Redding (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Kyle Scott (Chelsea; Bristol, England), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downers Grove, Ill.), Patrick Jean-Giles (D.C. United; Lorton, Va.), Cameron Lindley (Chicago Fire; Carmel, Ind.), Stephen Payne (Chicago Magic PSG; Birmingham, Ala.), Sebastian Saucedo (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy; Grove City, Ohio), Jackson Yueill (Minnesota Thunder; Bloomington, Minn.)
FORWARDS (4): Coy Craft (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Sebastian Elney (Boca United; Boca Raton, Fla.), Christian Lucatero (Houston Dynamo; Pasadena, Texas), Jorge Ruiz (LA Galaxy; Mission Hills, Calif.)
