Sporting Kansas City midfielder Gianluca Busio has joined the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team for the 2018 Under-17 International Youth Tournament in England. Busio is part of a 21-man roster led by head coach Shaun Tsakiris, with the Americans set to play three matches over a five-day span across the Atlantic.
Busio and the U.S. will kick off the tournament against hosts England on Friday before facing perennial powerhouse Brazil on Sunday and Russia next Tuesday, Oct. 16. Matches will take place at five different venues in the counties of Cheshire and Shropshire.
The International Youth Tournament will serve as the United States’ final tune-up ahead of the 2018 Nike International Friendlies in late November at Lakewood Ranch, Florida. This group of U-17s is forming the core that will attempt to qualify for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup via the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship.
2018 Under-17 International Youth Tournament Schedule
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Matchup</strong> |
<strong>Location</strong> |
<strong>Kickoff (CT)</strong> |
<strong>Fri., Oct. 12</strong> |
<strong>USA vs. England</strong> |
<strong>Deva Stadium, Chester</strong> |
<strong>1 p.m.</strong> |
Fri., Oct. 12 |
Brazil vs. Russia |
Weaver Stadium, Nantwich |
1 p.m. |
Sun., Oct. 14 |
England vs. Russia |
New Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury |
7 a.m. |
<strong>Sun., Oct. 14</strong> |
<strong>USA vs. Brazil</strong> |
<strong>Weaver Stadium, Nantwich</strong> |
<strong>11 a.m.</strong> |
<strong>Tue., Oct. 16</strong> |
<strong>USA vs. Russia</strong> |
<strong>Wincham Park, Northwich</strong> |
<strong>1 p.m.</strong> |
Tue., Oct. 16 |
Brazil vs. England |
New Bucks Head Stadium Telford |
1 p.m. |
Now in his first full season as a professional, the 16-year-old Busio last represented the U.S. U-17s in April at the Sportchain Cup in Spain. He previously starred for the United States at the U-15 level, where he scored five goals at the 2017 Concacaf U-15 Championship last summer, before making the jump to the U-17s in December at the 2017 Nike International Friendlies.
Busio, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, signed for Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in August 2017 at age 15, becoming the second-youngest player in MLS history at the time. He has enjoyed a breakthrough 2018 campaign at the club level, playing seven competitive matches for Sporting KC in addition to starting nine of 10 USL appearances for the Swope Park Rangers.
Busio starred for the Sporting KC Academy during the 2016-17 season as one of the United States’ top youth prospects for his age. Splitting time as a winger and attacking midfielder, he scored nine goals in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy and earned 2017 Central Conference Best XI honors last summer.
U.S. U-17 MNT Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Damian Las (Chicago Fire; Norridge, Ill.), Chituru Odunze (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Calgary, Alberta)
DEFENDERS (8): Axel Alejandre (FC United; Chicago, Ill.), Adam Armour (North Carolina FC; Cary, N.C.), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; Douglasville, Ga.), Tayvon Gray (New York City FC; Bronx, N.Y.), Mason Judge (Eintracht Frankfurt; Tampa, Fla.), Antino Lopez (Shattuck - St. Mary's; Las Vegas, Nev.), Joe Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): William Reilly (Atlanta United FC; Decatur, Ga.), Daniel Robles (Seattle Sounders FC; White Center, Wash.), David Rodriguez (FC Dallas; Irving, Texas), Adam Saldana (LA Galaxy; Panorama City, Calif.), Peter Stroud (West Ham United; Chester, N.J.)
FORWARDS (5): Sagir David Arce (Monarcas Morelia; Chihuahua, Mexico), Gianluca Busio (Sporting Kansas City; Greensboro, N.C.), Andres Jasson (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Alfonso Ocampo Chavez (Seattle Sounders FC; Kent, Wash.), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; McKinney, Texas), Griffin Yow (D.C. United; Clifton, Va.)
