SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Gilbert Fuentes and academy forward Cade Cowell have been called up to the United States U-17 Men’s National Team by head coach Shaun Tsakiris to compete in the Four Nations Tournament in Mexico City. The USA will face Argentina on Oct. 4, Mexico the following day and conclude the competition against Chile on Oct. 7.
Fuentes, 16, was signed by the Earthquakes as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 26, 2018, becoming the club’s youngest-ever signing. He is a staple within the U.S. Youth National Team system and has competed at several age levels over the years. Last month, Fuentes was called to the U-17s for a four-game international training camp in Costa Rica. The U-17s would go on to earn a 2-1-1 record during the camp, which included two matches against Mexico and two against host nation Costa Rica. He is currently on loan with the Quakes’ USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC.
Cowell, 14, is by far the youngest player included at the camp, his first at the U-17 level. One of just two players born in 2003, Cowell is eight months younger than the next youngest player on the roster, which is primarily comprised of players born in 2002. He recently competed for the U.S. U-16s, scoring three goals in two games against the U-19s of Orlando City SC and IMG Academy. Although Cowell is age-eligible for the Quakes’ U-15 Academy squad, he currently competes with the U-17s and scored a goal last weekend against the Portland Timbers in their first match of the 2018-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season.
The trip to Mexico marks the seventh camp of the cycle. The squad has also traveled to Spain and Costa Rica, where the team’s international competition included games against India (1-0, 1-0), Norway (2-0, 1-0), Costa Rica (2-2, 2-1) and Mexico (1-0, 1-2).
This group of players is nine months into its two-year cycle as the U-17 MNT and will transition to the U-19 team in 2020. The group forms the core of players who will compete at the 2019 CONCACAF U-17 Championship for a regional title and berth to the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The group began its cycle last December at the 2017 Nike International Friendlies before taking part in the inaugural U.S. Soccer Men's YNT Summit one month later.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Aaron Cervantes (Orange County Soccer Club; Chino Hills, Calif.), Damian Las (Chicago Fire; Norridge, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (7): Axel Alejandre (FC United; Chicago, Ill.), Adam Armour (North Carolina FC; Cary, N.C.), Michael Barragan (Atlas FC; Guadalajara, Mexico), Mauricio Cuevas (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Kobe Hernandez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Antino Lopez (Shattuck-St. Mary's; Las Vegas, Nev.), Kenny Nielsen (Pateadores; Irvine, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Josh Atencio (Seattle Sounders FC; Bellevue, Wash.), James Dunning (Feyenoord; Rotterdam, Netherlands), Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes; Tracy, Calif.), Daniel Robles (Seattle Sounders FC; White Center, Wash.), Adam Saldana (LA Galaxy; Panorama City, Calif.), Aiden Weaver (PA Classics; Elizabethtown, Pa.)
FORWARDS (5): Sagir David Arce (Monarcas Morelia; Chihuahua, Mexico), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; Ceres, Calif.), Alfonso Ocampo Chavez (Seattle Sounders FC; Kent, Wash.), Mario Penagos (Sacramento Republic FC; Elk Grove, Calif.), Ray Serrano (Seattle Sounders FC; Graham, Wash.)
