Four New York City FC academy players were called up by the United States U-16 team for this month’s International Dream Cup in Japan. In fact, NYCFC are the best-represented club on the 20-player US roster.
NYCFC’s call-ups include three of their most recent Homegrown player signings – Maximo Carrizo, Christian McFarlane, and Jonny Shore – along with academy right-back Drew Baiera.
In-demand dual-nationals
Baiera and Shore are holdovers from coach Michael Nsien’s last US U-16 camp back in January, but the roster additions of Carrizo and McFarlane are significant because both are are hugely-hyped teen prospects, and both are dual-nationals.
Carrizo played with Argentina’s U-17 squad in November, and McFarlane represented England at the U-16 level in two matches with Turkey back in December. Inclusion in this US youth camp would seem to bode well for the two players being named to this winter’s U-17 World Cup squad, and might improve the chances of future commitments to the USMNT.
Products of NYCFC II’s Starting XI
McFarlane and Carrizo have both featured regularly in NYCFC II’s starting lineups during the early stages of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season.
McFarlane has made six NYCFC II appearances total, with the 16-year-old left back going the full 90 minutes after starting all three of the team’s most recent matches.
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Carrizo has been in the starting lineup for four straight NYCFC II matches, with the 15-year-old attacking midfielder credited for creating the most chances in the NYCFC II win over New England Revolution II on May 6.
Shore signed his first professional contract with NYCFC this March at the age of 15. Baiera is a Connecticut-based defensive prospect born in 2007.
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International Dream Cup format
The US strangely will play on back-to-back days in this condensed mini-tourney in Japan. First they will face Japan on May 31, then the Netherlands on June 1. The final US match with Nigeria will take place on June 3. All are set to be held at the J-Village Stadium in Fukushima.
This tournament should provide a valuable look at how some of NYCFC’s most promising young players measure up on a highly-competitive international stage, so get ready to stay up late (match kickoffs are at 10 pm or 1 am Eastern!) if you want to keep tabs on some of the youngest Boys in Blue.
