The CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship will be a venerable showcase for young MLS talent, not just on the US and Canadian national teams.
Eight players from MLS were included in the US U-23 20-man roster, along with three receiving the call-up from Canada (in addition to seven from USL affiliate clubs), it was revealed last week.
In addition, three other MLS players were included in the final rosters of the six other teams in the tournament, which were released by CONCACAF on Friday.
Headlining that list is the Houston Dynamo's Mexican forward Erick “Cubo” Torres, who scored 22 goals in two seasons while on loan at Chivas USA from parent club Chivas Guadalajara. The 22-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Dynamo this season and also has four caps and a goal for El Tri’s senior team.
In addition, Orlando City rookie striker Bryan Róchez received the call-up from Honduras. Róchez has come on strong lately for the Lions, scoring two game-winning goals in his last two appearances, the first MLS tallies of his career.
Recent New England Revolution Homegrown signing Zachary Herivaux was named to Haiti’s roster. The 19-year-old midfielder, born in Japan while his father was playing professionally there, was raised in Brookline, Mass. Former D.C. United attacker Christiano François, who now plays in Portugal, also made the Haitian squad.
The tournament for the right to play in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be played in four US cities from Oct. 1-10.
The two teams that advance to the championship game qualify for the Olympics. The third-place finishers advance to a playoff against Colombia, CONMEBOL’s second-place finishers in South America’s Youth Football Championship, for the right to advance to Rio.
