By Mike Woitalla For its first gathering since the draw for the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Coach Richie Williams has named a 20-player squad for the U-17 Vaclav JezekYouth Tournament in the Czech Republic, where the USA faces Russia (Aug. 18), Slovenia (Aug. 19) and Slovakia (Aug. 21) in group play. A final placement game […]
u-17 world cup
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Roster: U.S. U-17s boys head to Czech Republic
For its first gathering since the draw for the 2015 U-17 World Cup, Coach Richie Williams has named a 20-player squad for the U-17 Vaclav Jezek Youth Tournament in the Czech Republic,where the USA faces Russia (Aug. 18), Slovenia (Aug. 19) and Slovakia (Aug. 21) in group play. A final placement game takes place Aug. […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Another U.S. U-17 goes pro as Velela joins Cosmos
By Mike Woitalla Alexis Velela, who signed this week with the NASL’s New York Cosmos, is the latest member to go pro from the 20-player U.S. U-17 national teamsquad that qualified last March for the 2015 U-17 World Cup. The 17-year-old Southern California product, who played for the San Diego Surf and Nomads, started all […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
USA gets 'challenging group' at U-17 World Cup
By Mike Woitalla One goal for the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup in Chile (Oct. 17-Nov. 8) will be to win a knockout-stage game for the first time since 1999, when the USAfinished fourth at biennial tournament with a team that included Landon Donovan and DaMarcus Bealsey. After Thursday’s draw, just getting to […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
USA to face host and defending champ at U-17 World Cup
The USA was drawn into Group A along with host Chile, Croatia and defending champion Nigeria at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, which kicks off Oct. 17. USA group stageschedule Oct. 17 vs. Nigeria in SantiagoOct. 20 vs. Croatia in Viña del MarOct. 23 vs. Chile in Viña del Mar Nigeria’s 3-0 win over Mexico […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: France U-17 coach Jean-Claude Giuntini
“He was determined to take the penalty. There was no way I could refuse him.” — France coach Jean-Claude Giuntini on goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of legendary French star Zinedine Zidane, asking to take a penalty kick in the shootout to decide thesemifinals of the UEFA U-17 Championship against Belgium. Luca Zidane missed his Panenka, […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Insider
Richie Williams on teens turning pro, Bradenton, plus lessons from U-17 qualifying
By Mike Woitalla The USA earned a spot at the 2015 World Cup with a penalty-kick shootout at win over Jamaica on March 15, leaving Coach Richie Williams withseven months to fine-tune his team for the World Cup that kick off Oct. 17 in Chile. We spoke with Williams about preparing a team whose squad […]
Posted inStory, Youth Soccer Reporter
Roster: U.S. U-17s convene in New Jersey
Coach Richie Williams has called in a 20-player squad for a May 2-11 camp at the New York Red Bulls’ practice facility East Hanover, N.J., as preparations continue for the 2015 U-17World Cup hosted by Chile in October. U.S. U-17 Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): William Pulisic (Richmond United; Mechanicsville, Va.), KevinSilva (Players Development Academy; Bethlehem, Pa.). […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U-17 striker Haji Wright joins New York Cosmos
The NASL’s New York Cosmos have signed 17-year-old Southern California product Haji Wright, who started at striker for the U.S. U-17 national team in its successful quest to qualifyfor the U-17 World Cup. Wright played for the LA Galaxy Academy before entering the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla. He trained at Schalke 04 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying: Jurgen Klinsmann
“Having the U-17s being in Honduras trying to qualify for the World Cup and go through that stuff is priceless. It’s so important for them to deal with different conditions, to deal withemotions, to deal with difficult moments in a game where they have to solve it, to deal with fatigue and climate. It is […]