By Anonymous (not verified), July 5, 2022
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MLS-Made U.S U-20s Qualify for 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup and2024 Olympic Games
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| The U-20 U.S. Men’s Youth National Team had a banner week, as MLS continues to power North American national teams at all levels. The USMYNT won a third-straight Concacaf U-20 Championship title to qualify for both the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which will see the U.S. return to Olympic competition for the first time since Beijing 2008.Led by breakout performances from Philadelphia Union academy product Paxten Aaronson, the USYMNT U-20 roster was filled with names that will soon become household to Major League Soccer fans, as the national team stars of tomorrow are largely MLS-made. Sixteen of the 20 players on the U20 Championship roster are products of or are currently in the MLS academy system, and 11 of those 20 have appeared in MLS matches, headlined by Aaronson, Inter Miami CF’s Noah Allen, New York Red Bulls’ Caden Clark, and San Jose Earthquakes’ Cade Cowell , among others. Additionally, eight of the 20 players have appeared in MLS NEXT Pro matches this season, further displaying the impact and importance of the MLS development system in grooming the next generation of stars.Aaronson completed his incredible tournament with his second brace in three matches, and the 18-year-old earned the championship’s Golden Boot award with seven goals across the competition. Other goalscorers in the title match included Allen, Atlanta United forward Tyler Wolff, Philadelphia midfielder Jack McGlynn, and San Jose’s Niko Tsakiris. With two marquee international tournaments now on the schedule for 2023 and 2024, the future of United States soccer has never looked brighter. |