US Club Soccer – a prominent member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and the leading organization developing soccer clubs across America – today announces members of the 2018 id² National Selection International Tour will travel to Spain, March 22-April 3, for a multi-faceted experience highlighted by participation in the 18th annual Mediterranean International Cup (MIC).

The MIC takes place on the northeast coast of Spain at the Costa Brava, featuring the best clubs and national academy teams in the world. In its 17-year history, top teams like Brazil National Selection, FC Barcelona, FC Inter Milan, Liverpool FC, Manchester United, Mexico National Selection and Real Madrid CF have all competed. Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Gerard Piqué and other world-renowned stars have taken the MIC pitch.

2018 id² National Selection Roster
 

Name                                Position                        Hometown                        Club

Alejandro Alcala                     F                               Stockton, Calif.                  Stockton TLJ FC

Anders Bordoy                       D                               New Kensington, Pa.         Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Logan Calpito                        M                               Shoreline, Wash.               Rush Hawaii (former)

Tatenda Chigede                   M                               Tulsa, Okla.                       TSC Hurricane

Iván Contreras                       D                               Joliet, Ill.                            Daredevils SC

Niall Dunn                              D                               Phoenix, Ariz.        Scottsdale Soccer Blackhawks

Andrew Dutra                         F                               Hanford, Calif.                   California Odyssey SC

Dominic Gambone                 F                               North Canton, Ohio           Canton United SC

Juan Gonzalez                      M                               Paterson, N.J.                   NASA United FC

Nylmar Gonzalez                 GK                              San Rafael, Calif.              Marin FC Alliance

Alan Gutierrez                       M                               Fresno, Calif.       Red Star Soccer/Central Valley Liberty

Cristóbal León                       D                               Honolulu, Hawaii               Rush Hawaii

Nicholas McCune                GK                              San Ramon, Calif.             San Ramon FC

Kevin Mearse                        F                               Glendale, Ariz.          Scottsdale Soccer Blackhawks

Oliver Nii                               D                               Broomfield, Colo.               WOW FC

Brooklyn Raines                   M                               Oak Lawn, Ill.                     Inter FC

Allan Rodriguez Lopez         M                               Elkhart, Ind.                       San Antonio FC

Owen Van Marter                 D                               Hilton Head Island, S.C.    Tormenta FC

 
The id² National Selection earned the top spot in Group L, drawing the following opponents for the initial group stage:

Officially beginning March 28, the tournament concludes with the championship round on April 1. Prior to this, the id² National Selection team will begin its journey in New Jersey with a domestic camp, March 22-24. After an expected arrival in Barcelona on March 25, the team will transfer to the city of Girona for training sessions over the following two days. While in Girona, the squad will scrimmage Girona FC’s top youth academy team on March 26, which will also compete in the MIC. Finally, on March 27, the group moves on to Platja D’Aro for the MIC competition.

The id² Boys Program director Gerry McKeown will lead the team in the id² Program’s ninth trip abroad. Logan Calpito (formerly of Rush Hawaii) returns from the 2017 id² National Selection team. Last year’s team advanced to the quarterfinals of the MIC – the best tournament finish by a U.S.-based team, according to MIC officials.

“It is a unique opportunity to expose our players to games that have consequence,” said McKeown. “At this age, our young players do not play enough elimination games. It will be challenging for them playing against great international clubs when the performance actually counts. In this tournament, if you underperform, it will result in an early departure or more beach time.”

Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, the organization is fully funding the trip in conjunction with strong support from Nike. The id² Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.

In addition to Nike, LaLiga is offering its resources to enhance the 2018 id² National Selection International Tour. Premier International Tours is also assisting with travel logistics, and, like previous years, is serving as 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 2004, which included several Player Development Program (PDP) events and three id² Training Camps held in 2017.

US Club Soccer’s id² Program previously toured Spain in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017, playing games against the likes of Atlético Madrid, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In the nine-year history of the international tour, US Club Soccer’s id² National Selection team has played a collection of friendlies against top academy teams. Participation in the 2017 MIC represents the second consecutive time the id² team will play in a tournament.

In addition to competing in one of the best competitions in the world, this year’s group will be immersed in a multi-faceted experience on- and-off-the-field that also includes watching professional games, training in some of the country’s best facilities and enjoying cultural immersion through sightseeing excursions.

As has been the case in past international trips, video journals will be made available from Spain. Video journals from past trips are available here: 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |2012 | 2011 | 2010.

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 development 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.