It’s a World Cup year for the United States, and not just for the senior team. The U.S. Under-17 men’s national team is gearing up for their own moment on the big stage, one that will come in November in Qatar.
Traditionally, U17 World Cups have been more quiet affairs for the American fandom. It’s one for the diehards, those keen to track the program’s youngest stars before they break out. This time, it’s different. This age group, the one bound for Qatar this summer, isn’t filled with players waiting for their big breaks – it includes multiple players that are already headliners.
This week, U.S. U17 men’s national team coach Gonzalo Segares called in 21 players for the team’s penultimate camp before Qatar. The squad, bound for the Netherlands, includes Cavan Sullivan, already a household name in American soccer. It includes Mathis Albert, who joined Borussia Dortmund for the Club World Cup this summer.
Julian Hall is a mainstay for the New York Red Bulls, Nimfasha Berchimas has featured for Charlotte FC and Chase Adams earned the “Baby Haaland” moniker with a 10-goal explosion during qualifying in February. These aren’t high schoolers anymore. They’re players in professional environments. The game has changed.
Segares, then, is the man tasked with taking those young stars and getting them ready for what comes next. This, by all accounts, is one of the more talented U17 pools in recent memory, and the World Cup has served as the launching pad of some of the game’s greats. Landon Donovan, Cesc Fabregas, Phil Foden and Toni Kroos are among this competition’s previous Golden Ball winners – can one of these young Americans contend for it this time around?
For Segares, the challenge is two-fold. First, of course, is the desire to win. But, when you coach on the youth level, there’s also a second target: develop players. Segares’ job isn’t just to win, but to prepare these up-and-comers for more World Cups ahead.
“For me, this is about giving everyone the opportunity to experience what a World Cup game is and the honor and the price that it represents,” the former Chicago Fire defender, turned U17 coach, tells GOAL. “This is about playing on the big stage against the best players from around the world. That’s what’s going to make our players better, right? That’s what’s going to get them ready to be able to be challenged and improve. There’s nothing like representing your country in the biggest event that there will be at the U17 level. I think we have a good enough team to be very competitive and go very far.”
Segares discussed his process for developing young talent, managing a new generation of stars and expectations for the World Cup in the latest GOAL Convoa recurring Q&A with central figures in the American game.
NOTE: This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
