US Club Soccer – a prominent member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and the leading organization developing soccer clubs across America – announces the 2019 id² National Selection International Tour roster that will travel to Belgium and France, March 29-April 9, for a multi-faceted experience highlighted by friendly matches against top academy clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain.
 
The U.S. contingent, made up of 18 of the top boys players born in 2005, will also be immersed in culture with excursions throughout the neighboring countries. Of the 18 players, there are 17 clubs and 13 states represented, and one-German based athlete.

 

For the 10th consecutive year, id² Boys Program Director Gerry McKeown will lead the team, which has played the likes of FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Juventus, Inter Milan, Everton, Celtic, Atletico Madrid and Ajax over the years.
 

2019 id² National Selection Roster
 

Name                                        Position                   Hometown                                Club

Braxton Arpachinda                    M / F                       Sterling Heights, Mich.               Nationals

Sebastian Carbajal                        F                           Napa, Calif.                               Napa United 1839 Academy

Anthony Castor                           M / F                       Kansas City, Kan.                      Soccer Nation KC Academy

Haroun Conteh                              D                          Glendale, Ariz.                           Phoenix Rising FC

Stevie Davis                                  M                          Doylestown, Pa.                        Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals

Dominic Dubon                              F                          Sparrows Point, Md.                  Philadelphia Union Youth

Damian Espinoza                          F                          Adelanto, Calif.                           Apple Valley SC Storm

Daniel Farberov                             F                          Summit, N.J.                              STA

Gregory “Dan” Jackson                 M                          Honolulu, Hawaii                        FC Hawaii

Alexander Lopez Hernandez         D                          Mesa, Ariz.                                 Phoenix Rising SC

William Lulka                                 D                          New York, N.Y.                           Manhattan SC

Brooklyn Raines                            M                          Oak Lawn, Ill.                             Barca Academy (Ariz.)

Jacob Rivera                                GK                         Reno, Nev.                                 Players SC

Matthew Robinson                        M                          Floral Park, N.Y.                         Barca Academy New York

Noah Thomas                              GK                         Dublin, Ohio                               Ohio Premier SC

Ruwan Thoumoung                      D                           Wolfsburg, Germany                  VfL Wolfsburg

Joel Torbic                                    M                           State College, Pa.                      Allegheny Force FC

Gino Valenti                                  D                           Pittsboro, N.C.                           Wake FC
 

                                        Head Coach:                     Gerry McKeown (Summit, N.J.)
                                        
                                        Assistant Coach:              Ian Mork (Petaluma, Calif.)
                                        
                                        Goalkeeper Coach:          Tyler Stakiwicz (Nutley, N.J.)
                                        
                                        Athletic Trainer:               Chris Young (Annandale, Va.)

The 2019 id² National Selection International Tour includes a brief domestic camp in New Jersey and stops in Antwerp, Belgium and Paris, France. The delegation will train in top facilities and play friendlies against academy clubs, highlighted by a match against PSG 2005s. Additionally, the team will attend a Ligue 1 game and enjoy various cultural activities. More specifics about the tour schedule will be available on usclubsoccer.org in the coming weeks.

The 2019 id² National Selection International Tour represents the final id² programming element for boys born in 2005. It concludes an age group cycle that featured numerous identification and development opportunities, including Player Development Program (PDP) events and id² Training Camps. Nike continues to be an influential supporter of this international tour – and the id² Program in general.

“We are looking forward to embarking on another European journey of discovery,” McKeown says. “We get to learn a lot about these players while being tested by the world's best. More importantly, the players learn a lot about themselves. Sometimes these experiences can be the catalyst for self belief.”

Numerous id² National Selection alumni have advanced to the highest levels of the sport, including Christian Pulisic (2012), Jonathan Gonzalez (2013), Tyler Adams (2013), Corey Baird (2010), Collin Fernandez (2010), Matthew Olosunde (2012), Tommy Redding (2011), Ben Swanson (2010) and Timothy Weah (2013). Stay tuned to usclubsoccer.org for the latest edition of the annual “id2 where are they now” series, detailing the rosters from previous international trips.

Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, the organization is funding the trip in conjunction with the strong support of Nike; there is no cost to players, including airfare, lodging, meals and gear. The id² Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.

In addition to Nike, Premier International Tours is offering its resources to enhance the 2019 id² National Selection International Tour – serving as an on-site liaison for the duration of the trip.

More information: usclubsoccer.org, 843.614.4140.

About the Tour

Players are selected based on extensive scouting and participation in the id² Program cycle targeting boys born in 2005, which included several Player Development Program (PDP) events and three id² Training Camps held in 2018.

US Club Soccer’s id² Program has previously toured Europe for nine of the 10 international trips, including England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland and Spain.

As has been the case in past international trips, video journals will be made available from Belgium and France.

About US Club Soccer

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its five pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.