FC Cincinnati Homegrown midfielder Stiven Jimenez has been called in by Michael Nsien to the United States Men’s Youth National Team’s U-16 squad for the upcoming 2023 International Dream Cup, the federation announced yesterday.
Jimenez, 15, will join 19 other young Americans in Fukushima, Japan for three matches against Japan, Netherlands and Nigeria between May 30 and June 4. All players who were called into the squad are also eligible for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will take place in November and December of this year in a yet-to-be-named host country.
FC Cincinnati’s youngest ever signing earns his third USYNT call up in the last year and a half, having trained with the U.S. U-15s twice in 2022. Jimenez also trained with the Mexican U-16 Youth National Team last May.
Here is the schedule for the U.S. U-16s:
May 31
Japan vs. USA – 1 a.m. ET
June 1
USA vs. Netherlands – 10 p.m. ET
June 3
Nigeria vs. USA – 10 p.m. ET
Full announcement from U.S. Soccer is below.
CHICAGO (May 22, 2023) – The U.S. Under-16 Men’s Youth National Team will take on Japan, Netherlands and Nigeria at the 2023 International Dream Cup at J-Village Stadium in Fukushima, Japan. Head coach Michael Nsien has called up 20 players for the competition, his third event in charge since taking over the U-16 MYNT last November.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2007 are age-eligible for this U-16 MYNT cycle. Nsien selected 18 players born in 2007 and two born in 2008: New York City FC midfielder Maximo Carrizo and Charlotte FC forward Nimfasha Berchimas. All are eligible for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, set for this November/December with the host country still to be confirmed.
U-16 MYNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB) – INTERNATIONAL DREAM CUP
GOALKEEPERS (2): Zackory Campagnolo (Orlando City SC), Patrick Los (Chicago Fire FC)
DEFENDERS (7): Davi Alexandre (New York Red Bulls), Nicholas Almeida (Inter Miami CF), Andrew Baiera (New York City FC), Christian McFarlane (New York City FC), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union) Joshua Santiago (Los Angeles FC), Jeremiah White IV (Philadelphia Union)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC), Stiven Jimenez (FC Cincinnati), Santiago Morales (Inter Miami CF), Axel Perez (Lyon/FRA), Jonathan Shore (New York City FC), Ervin Torres Jr. (Austin FC), Adyn Torres (Atlanta United FC)
FORWARDS (4): Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC), Caden Glover (St. Louis City SC), Bryce Outman (FC Dallas), Noah Santos (Portland Timbers)
INTERNATIONAL DREAM CUP SCHEDULE
May 30
Netherlands vs. Nigeria – 10 p.m. ET
May 31
Japan vs. USA – 1 a.m. ET
June 1
USA vs. Netherlands – 10 p.m. ET
June 2
Japan vs. Nigeria – 1 a.m. ET
June 3
Nigeria vs. USA – 10 p.m. ET
June 4
Japan vs. Netherlands – 1 a.m. ET
Eleven players return from the U-16s’ last training camp, a January domestic gathering in Tampa, Fla. Four have been a part of all four U-16 MYNT training camps so far this cycle: goalkeeper Zackory Campagnolo as well as defenders Nicholas Almeida, Neil Pierre and Jeremiah White IV.
The U-16s’ last international matches came at November’s Football Federations Cup U-16 in Ablir, Spain. The USA’s strong showing included victories against Wales and England as Berchimas and midfielder Ervin Torres Jr. both scored for the U.S.
Fifteen clubs are represented on the roster, led by four players from New York City FC and two from Inter Miami CF. One player- midfielder Axel Perez- is based abroad at Lyon in France. Forward Caden Glover became the first 2007-born player to appear in Major League Soccer when he took the field as a second-half substitute for St. Louis City SC last week.
