Seattle Sounders FC Academy 15-year old striker Azriel Gonzalez has been called into the United States U-16 Boys National Team for the Val-De-Marne Tournament in France.
Gonzalez was one of 20 players selected by head coach Shaun Tsakaris for three matches against elite European opposition, beginning on Oct. 25 with a matchup versus England. The group will face Russia just two days later before playing one final match against France on Oct. 29.
Gonzalez’s call-up comes after an impressive camp with the U-16 BNT back in September, in which the young striker scored three goals across a pair of friendlies.
Now on the verge of his first competitive trip at the international level, Gonzalez will hope to replicate his fine form with Sounders Academy for the United States.
Gonzalez has consistently played one or two years above his age group in his three-year spell in the Rave Green youth system. In fact, he scored a goal with a left-footed volley on his debut with the Sounders U-18s against Pateadores on Sept. 25.
Gonzalez’s innate finishing ability and intelligent movement in the final third make him a nightmare for opposition defenses. Moreover, the Academy standout already has plenty of experience on the international stage despite his young age.
The crafty No. 9 led the U-14s to a 4th place finish at the Cayman Airways Cup in May with eight goals and four assists from just five matches. Additionally, he finished as the top scorer at the storied Youdan Trophy – in which the Sounders defeated Swiss side FC Basel in the final – with five goals in five games. More recently, Gonzalez collected a goal and two assists in a 4-0 drubbing of rivals Portland Timbers at the first round of qualifying for Generation Adidas Cup.
The full 20-player roster for the tournament can be found here.
