Philadelphia Union Academy announced today that Abdoulaye Diop, Samuel Gallego, Landon Mulvenna and Chris Thompson have been selected for the upcoming U-16 Boys' National Team training camp.
Philadelphia Union Academy led the way with four players selected for the camp that will take place from September 12-19 at McCurry Park in Fayetteville, Georgia. The U-16 BNT will be led by new Head Coach Paul Simpson. A former professional player with over 600 appearances in the English Football League system, Simpson brings over 20 years of coaching experience to U.S. Soccer’s Youth National Team program.
Holder of the UEFA PRO license, Simpson's coaching resume includes the management of Rochdale FC, Carlisle United, Preston North End, Shrewsbury Town and Stockport County. Additionally, Simpson led the England Under-20 Men’s National Team from 2017-2020, guiding the side to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup championship. Most recently he served as an assistant coach under Steve McClaren with the Jamaica Men’s National Team.
Twenty-three come from 13 different Major League Soccer club setups. Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union and St. Louis City lead the way with four player selections each, followed by two from FC Cincinnati and one apiece from Columbus Crew, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Nashville SC, New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders. USL Championship club Sacramento Republic also has one player selected for this month’s squad.
This group of players is beginning the process toward qualification for the 2027 FIFA U-17 World Cup to be held in Qatar. All players are born after Jan. 1, 2010.
U-16 BOYS’ NATIONAL TEAM (2010) – ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Hometown)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ryan Cloninger (St. Louis City; St. Louis, Mo.), Zach Crider (FC Cincinnati; Loveland, Ohio), Jackson Dale (Seattle Sounders; Mercer Island, Wash.)
DEFENDERS (8): Sam Anderson (St. Louis City; Lake St. Louis, Mo.), Oli Beabout (FC Cincinnati; Cincinnati, Ohio), Fred Bond (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.), Josh Brown (Atlanta United; Snellville, Ga.), Landon Mulvenna (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Jaiden Paz (LA Galaxy; Manifee, Calif.), Luca Stephan (Nashville SC; Nashville, Tenn.), Chris Thompson (Philadelphia Union; Gloucester Township., N.J.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Samuel Diaz Gallego (Philadelphia Union; Richmond, Va.), Abdoulaye Diop (Philadelphia Union; Washington, D.C.), David IIevbare (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.), Eddie Niles (St. Louis City; St. Louis, Mo.), Abraham Prado (LAFC; West Covina, Calif.) Matthew Shannon (Houston Dynamo; Kingswood, Texas), Alex Soria (FC Dallas; Burleson, Texas)
FORWARDS (6): Oscar Barrios Avilez (D.C. United; Washington, D.C.), Jamil Danjaji (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio), Da'vian Kimbrough (Sacramento Republic; Woodland, Calif.), Kai Martinez (Atlanta United; Miami, Fla.), Brandon Velez (New England Revolution; Concord, Mass.), Blake Wilson (St. Louis City; St. Louis, Mo.)
