United States Under-17 national team head coach Richie WIlliams has called in five players from MLS academies for an upcoming tournament in Chile as the group prepares for the World Cup there in October 2015.
The US will face Chile, Brazil, and Qatar in the 2014 Copa Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins from Nov. 18-22. They will meet Chile on Nov. 18, Brazil on the 20th, and Qatar on the 22nd.
The players with ties to MLS academies include Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Hugo Arrellano (LA Galaxy), Tanner Dieterich (Real Salt Lake), George Braima (Columbus Crew), and Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas).
The leading goal scorer on the team is Haji Wright, a former member of the Galaxy Academy who has recently been linked to interest from German side FC Shalke 04 and has tallied 15 goals in 16 international games. Midfielder Christian Pulisic, who is rumored to be heading to German power Borussia Dortmund, has scored 12 goals and assisted on six more with the U-17s.
The US Under-17s will begin World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF Championship in February in Honduras.
GOALKEEPERS (2): William Pulisic (Richmond United; Mechanicsville, Va.), Kevin Silva (Players Development Academy; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (7): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls Academy; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Daniel Barbir (West Bromwich Albion; Allentown, Pa.), Tanner Dieterich (Real Salt Lake AZ; Nashville, Tenn.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Logan Panchot (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.) Alexis Velela (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): George Braima (Crew Soccer Academy; Columbus, Ohio), Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Keegan Kelly (Baltimore Celtic; Baltimore, Md.), Thomas McCabe (Players Development Academy; South Orange, N.J.), Christian Pulisic (Unattached; Hershey, Pa.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas, El Paso, Texas)
FORWARDS (5): Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), McKinze Gaines (Lonestar SC; Austin, Texas), Kai Koreniuk (Vitesse; Ormond Beach, Fla.), Josh Perez (Unattached; La Habra, Calif.), Haji Wright (Unattached; Los Angeles, Calif.)
