Sporting KC Academy defender Jaylin Lindsey has been named to the United States U-17 National Team for the 13th annual Nike International Friendlies in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, taking place today through Sunday at Premier Sports Complex.
Lindsey joins a 20-player roster selected by head coach John Hackworth in an elite youth competition featuring four prominent national teams. The U.S. will face Portugal, Turkey and Brazil in a three-game round-robin competition, marking one of the premier events on the U.S. youth soccer calendar.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lindsey is one of 12 returning players who competed at the 2015 Nike Friendlies as the U.S. went 1-2-0 with a win against tournament runner-up Netherlands. Of the 20 members on the roster, all but three play for U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs.
This year’s tournament features two games on each of the three match days. The U.S. battles Portugal tonight, then plays Turkey on Friday before finishing the competition Sunday against Brazil. All three U.S. matches will be broadcast live on ussoccer.com as well as the U.S. Soccer Facebook page and YouTube channel.
2016 Nike International Friendlies Schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Brazil vs. Turkey — 2:30 p.m. CT
USA vs. Portugal — 6 p.m. CT
Friday, Dec. 2
Portugal vs. Brazil — 2:30 p.m. CT
USA vs. Turkey — 6 p.m. CT
Sunday, Dec. 4
Turkey vs. Portugal — 12:30 p.m. CT
USA vs. Brazil — 4 p.m. CT
Lindsey joined the U.S. Under-17 Residency program in August after spending the previous three months with the Swope Park Rangers, the USL affiliate of Sporting KC. The 16-year-old signed an Academy contract with the Rangers on May 6, making his professional debut a day later against Saint Louis FC to become the first American player born in the 2000s to play in a professional match. The defender competed with the Sporting KC Academy at the USSDA playoffs in June and July before earning his first USL start versus Real Monarchs on Aug. 13.
The Nike International Friendlies run concurrently with the 2016 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Lakewood Ranch. The Sporting KC U-16s and U-18s will play three games each between Thursday and Monday against USSDA opponents from across the nation. Click here for Sporting KC’s Winter Showcase schedule and follow @SKCAcademy on Twitter for live updates.
U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos (S.L. Benfica; Philadelphia, Penn.), Justin Garces (Kendall SC; Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United FC; Roswell, Ga.), Sergino Dest (Ajax; Almere-stad, Netherlands), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), Carlos Ritaccio (BW Gotschee; Westbury, N.Y.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State; Mira Loma, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): George Acosta (Weston FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC; Southlake, Tex.), Rayshaun McGann (Philadelphia Union; Royal Palm Beach, Fla.), Indiana Vassilev (IMG Academy; Savannah, Ga.)
FORWARDS (5): Ayomide Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton, Ont.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United FC; Powder Springs, Ga.), Bryan Reynolds Jr. (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Tex.), Joshua Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallen, Mo.) Timothy Weah (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.; Rosedale, N.Y.)
