United States U-17 national team Head Coach Shaun Tsakiris has named Seattle Sounders FC 2 players Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Danny Robles to the U.S. roster for the 2018 International Youth Tournament in England. The tournament will take place across two host cities, Shropshire and Chester, where the Stars and Stripes will face off against England, Brazil and Russia.
Alongside teammates Ray Serrano and Josh Atencio, the quartet recently ventured to Mexico with the U.S. U-17s, where they competed in the Four Nations Tournament. All four prospects saw significant playing time for the United States as they took on Chile, Mexico and Argentina, with Ocampo-Chavez scoring the lone goal in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina.
Ocampo-Chavez, Robles, Serrano and Atencio with the U-17 national team in Mexico | Sheila Tatsunami
“By all accounts, the four boys did very well and made a very good impression,” said Sounders FC Director of Player Development and Academy Director Marc Nicholls. “I think that the national team staff are looking at these events as a way to look at some players that have been on the periphery and to provide some opportunity for others to broaden the base. We’ll have to see in the end, but it was a great opportunity for our players to stake their claim.”
All four prospects played integral roles as the Sounders U-17s claimed the USSDA national title in July, defeating the reigning champs, Atlanta United, 5-1 in the final. With S2 this season, each player has made a positive impression in their limited minutes, with Atencio scoring a wonderful goal on his professional debut.
Only nine players from the roster for the Four Nations Tournament will remain with the United States for the trip to England. All of the roster personnel changes were planned ahead of the first trip by the U.S. staff.
You can find more information on the latest U.S. U-17 call-ups here.
