CARSON, Calif. -- A huge decision looms for Tesho Akindele and Julio Morales, who are getting a taste of what it's like with the U.S. national team before they choose the country they want to represent in international soccer.
Akindele, the MLS Rookie of the Year last season with FC Dallas, also is eligible to play for his native Canada, and Morales, who was with Chivas USA in 2013, already has played in one World Cup for Mexico, but both are interested, if noncommittal, in what playing for the Yanks is all about.
Neither will play in the games Wednesday night in Chile or Feb. 8 against Panama at StubHub Center, but sessions on the field, in the gym and off the field with potential teammates serve as something of a recruiting tool. Both were released to their club teams on Saturday.
“I'm pretty undecided right now,” said Akindele, 22, who was born in Calgary but moved to Colorado when he was 8. “I talked to both coaches, from the U.S. and [Benito Floro with] Canada, before coming to this camp. I decided it would be a good thing to come and train. I'm not going to play in any of the games, obviously, just train and get a feel for what it's like.
“I've never been in any national team camps, and and [I'm getting] a feel for what it's like to be with the national team and what it's like over here at the U.S. camp.”
Akindele played in a U-17 friendly for Canada in 2009, and Morales, 21, saw action in two games at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, where Mexico reached the round of 16. Both say they self-identify as dual nationals, as much American as Canadian (for Akindele) or Mexican (for Morales).
Morales was born in Southern California and grew up in San Jose, but he's been based in his parents' native Mexico since he joined Guadalajara at 17. He played for Chivas USA on loan and now is on loan to Tepic, in Mexico's second-tier Liga Ascenso.
“It's a really good experience,” he said. “Coming to play with big, experienced players like Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and I'm really happy that Jurgen and the directors gave me a chance to come. ... It's going to be a very important choice to make, but first I have to talk it off with my parents. That's most important, and we'll see from there.”
Akindele, who scored seven goals with three assists in 26 league games and added a playoff goal for Dallas last year (WATCH it here), says he's in no hurry to make a decision, “but, obviously, sooner's better than later, to go full in on something rather than be floating in limbo.”
How they fit with the team, competition for opportunities and what achievements are possible are factors to take into consideration when making a decision, Akindele said.
His impression of the U.S. so far?
“It's been fantastic,” he said. “All the players are here to play, there's a lot of quality players, and off the field is a good experience, too. We've been treated great.”
That's what Klinsmann likes to hear.
“We want to show them how it would be with us,” the U.S. head coach said. “We want to, obviously, win them over. We want them first of all [to] feel comfortable. We want them to feel like this is their team or their environment.
“But then we leave the decision up to them and their family, and this is really important. Do we hope that they go with us at the end of the day? Absolutely, but without any pressure. And once they make a decision, it's a decision for life. ... At the end of the day, we hope they make that choice for us, but only if they're 100 percent convinced.”
