Fourteen of the 21 players selected for the USA U-20 National Team have previously played in the USL Championship or League One, many of them thanks to the MLS Academy Program.
Winder’s success, on the other hand, shows how young and talented players can gain prominence and develop at the professional level for their local clubs in the USL Championship and League One. The name recognition that the league brings, combined with the opportunity to be involved in first-team football from an early age, has allowed players and the clubs they represent to take a big step towards their dreams for the future. .
“In terms of the academy system, it was massive,” Vallas said. “I think if we really really embrace the idea that we are all part of the same ecosystem and that we are all in this situation together, we have really great potential in this sport. All the clubs that are making these investments are absolutely incredible, the progress in the MLS, the progress in the USL is great and my hope is that we truly look at the United States as a whole. And we keep evolving.”
The exponential increase in the professional environments in which players can compete and the expansion of the men’s and women’s youth national team programs have been a huge plus for Varras and his staff. Seeing more players and using the opportunity to build depth in the parallel U-19 program, the US national team has high hopes for this year’s U-20 World Cup.
Winder is also one of those players ready for the opportunity to step up, according to Vallas.
“[Joshua] He’s come through and fought to get into this roster,” Vallas said. “Obviously his work with the Under-19 team and coming to Marbella to compete has really proved a point. I think it’s another proof of him. [Mitrović] It was done in terms of preparing players who were probably not ready or not called up to the U20 national team. [Austin FC’s] Same with Owen Wolfe, [Colorado Rapids’ Darren] Yapi. All three of them were not with us, but now they are in the World Cup. ”
