On Thursday, we discussed current MLS or U.S. Men’s National Team players who once featured in a Generation adidas Cup tournament. Today, we look at players to watch in this year’s tournament who could feature on ESPN or FOX Sports in the near term. The Generation adidas Cup kicks off Friday afternoon with three matches at Swope Soccer Village. Click here for the schedule.
Sporting Kansas City: Jaylin Lindsey
The host side has no shortage of talent, and it has shown that through the early portions of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. The SKC Academy U-16 and U-18 teams have played five games each and have combined for 30 goals scored. The one player we’ll be keeping an eye on, though, has not featured for either team this season. Jaylin Lindsey signed a Swope Park Rangers Academy contract in May and made two appearances for the USL side this season between training stints with the U.S. U-17 national team. The 16-year-old defender recently featured for the U-17s in a 3-1 friendly victory over Panama and was named to the U-15/16 All-Central Conference team for the 2015-16 season.
Honorable Mention: Cameron Duke
Small and crafty, Cameron Duke was a centerpiece of the Sporting KC U-15 side that won the national championship in 2015. The younger brother of Swope Park Rangers midfielder Christian Duke, Cameron has featured for the U.S. YNT at the U-14 and U-15 level and most recently earned an invitation to train with the U-16s.
Chicago Fire - Nick Fernandez
The younger brother of Fire homegrown signing Collin Fernandez, Nick Fernandez is one of the premier prospects in the Chicago Fire Academy. Fernandez has featured five times for the Fire Academy this season with three goals scored.
Honorable Mention: Victor Bezerra
The Chicago native scored six goals for the Fire Academy U-16s, including this GOLAZO in the Academy Championships in July.
Columbus Crew - Sebastian Berhalter
You might be noticing a theme here. Many of the players on this list have relatives that have either played or currently play in Major League Soccer, and our Crew SC Academy standout is no exception. Sebastian Berhalter is the son of former U.S. Men’s National Team defender and current Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter. Sebastian has played six games this season for the Crew SC U-16s and was one of 58 players in his age group to be named to the first Boys’ National Team Futures training camp of 2015.
Honorable Mention: Colin Biros
After scoring six goals in 27 matches for the Crew SC Academy U-16s last year, Biros is off to a strong start to this year’s campaign with four goals through six games.
FC Dallas: Jesus Ferreira
The son of former MLS MVP David Ferreira, Jesus is the crown jewel of the FC Dallas Academy system. Ferreira scored 26 goals last year, leading the U-16 squad to a second consecutive national title. This year, he has scored three goals in five games for a U-18 squad that is currently sitting in second place in the Central Conference Frontier Division. With Colombian citizenship, the question on many pundits’ minds will be whether or not Ferreira will ever have the opportunity to feature for U.S. Soccer or follow his father's footsteps and play for Los Cafateros.
Honorable Mention: Bryan Reynolds
The pipeline in Frisco is strong. As a 14-year-old, Reynolds started for a U-16 side that won the national championship. Reynolds has only featured once for the FC Dallas U-16s this year, as the Texas native has gone back and forth between Frisco and U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida.
Houston Dynamo: Marcelo Palomino
One of the most promising players in the Dynamo Academy, Palomino currently trains in Bradenton with the U.S. U-17 Residency Program. Born in May 2001, Palomino made his first appearance for the Dynamo U-18s as a 13-year-old and has also featured for U.S. Soccer at the U-16 age group. Palomino recently recorded two assists for the U.S. U-16s in a 4-4 draw against England at the Tournament Delle Nazioni in Italy.
Honorable Mention: Osmar Chavero
Another late 2001 birthday, Chavero has been named to U.S. Soccer rosters at the U-14 and U-16 levels. The young goalkeeper is a promising prospect and will need to have a big tournament if the Dynamo have dreams of advancing to the championship round in Frisco.
Toronto FC: Ayomide Akinola
The only MLS side to not compete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, promising TFC Academy players typically earn their stripes in the USL. Akinola is no different, as the 16-year-old has featured 10 times for Toronto FC II with two goals scored. The young striker has dual citizenship and recently scored three goals in two matches for the U.S. U-17s in friendly wins against Guatemala and Panama.
Honorable Mention: Antonio Rocco Romeo
Canadian soccer fans will be following Antonio Rocco Romeo closely. The 17-year-old defender was named to Canada’s U-17 roster for a pair of international matches in April and played in the League1 Ontario All-Star Game in June. He has also featured once for TFCII in the USL this year.
