D.C. United will represent the USA at the U-13 Concacaf Champions League Tournament in Mexico City Aug. 4-8.
U.S. Soccer chose D.C. United to represent the Development Academy at the eight-teamtournament because of its record of developing players and its senior team’s history in Concacaf play. D.C. United became the first MLS team to win the Concacaf club title, winning the ChampionsCup in 1998, and it has made an MLS record 10 appearances in what became the Concacaf Champions League in 2008.
Since 2007, the D.C. United has placed 38 players on U.S. youth national teamsfrom the U-14 to U-23 age groups and has helped develop professional players such as Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Romain Gall, Jalen Robinson, Michael Seaton and ConorShanosky.
“It’s a great honor for our club to be selected and represent U.S. Soccer in this tournament,” said D.C. United U-13 Academy head coach John Bello.”“For them it’ll be a real eye-opener. … Sometimes because these guys play for an MLS Academy, they’ll think they’ve already achieved everything, when the reality isthey need to keep working really hard on their development in order to compete at an international standard, which is what their overall objective is. Seeing where they stack up internationally shouldgive them a good gauge of where they stand and what they need to build on.”
U-13 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Tournament
MontrealImpact (Canada), Herediano (Costa Rica), Chalatenango (El Salvador), Harbour View (Jamaica), Aguilas UAS (Mexico), Toluca (Mexico), Chepo FC (Panama), D.C. United.