What to Know: MLS NEXT Fest

Tomorrow, we will witness the commencement of the annual MLS Next Fest, scheduled to run from December 5 to December 10. All teams across the nation, spanning age groups from U-15 to U-17, are set to participate in this event hosted in Phoenix, Arizona. It is noteworthy that MLS teams will compete against each other, while non-MLS academies will be categorized into groups labeled from A to T. This event holds significant importance as young players from all corners of the country will undergo a crucial test, interacting with various national and international scouts and directors of the national team.

Games We Will Attend on Day 1:

• FC Dallas vs. Orlando City U-17 @6:00 PM

• Real Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls U-17 @8:15 PM

The United States U-15 Squad is On Fire

Meanwhile, the U-15 national team is currently engaged in the UEFA Development tournament in Lisbon, having secured two victories thus far. The initial triumph occurred on November 30 against the hosts, Portugal, where they emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. Goals were netted by Miguel Vieira (own goal) and Omar Hassan. Subsequently, on Saturday, the team achieved a second victory by defeating Italy 4-2, showcasing exceptional gameplay and teamwork. Notably, the team overcame a 2-0 deficit, with goals from Paul Sokoloff, Max Steelman, and Mathis Albert, securing the final score at 4-2. The team is poised to strive for a third victory in their upcoming match against Scotland at 6 AM EST tomorrow.

In another international competition, four Mexican American players are participating in the Mexican U-15 national team at the Football Federations Cup in Albier, Spain. The players include forward Saulo Tejada, born in 2009, representing San Diego Surf of the ECNL; Da'vian Kimbrough, the youngest professional player in the United States (born in 2010) and a forward for Sacramento Republic; Ademar Chavez and Lisandro Torres from the LAFC academy. The Mexican team is scheduled to debut against Finland on December 6, followed by matches against Saudi Arabia on the 8th and Spain on December 10.

The Youth World Champions

Shifting focus to the recently concluded World Cup, Germany emerged as the champions in a tightly contested final against France. The German team secured victory with a penalty from Paris Brunner, a goal from Noah Darvich in the 51st minute, and a late equalizer from Mathis Amougou after France's Saimon Bouabre had scored in the 53rd minute. This victory marked Germany's first World Cup at the U-17 level, with Paris Brunner earning the Golden Ball. The Silver Ball was awarded to defender Hamidou Makalou, who, alongside Mali, clinched third place by defeating Argentina 3-0. The Golden Boot was presented to Argentina's center forward Agustin Ruberto, who scored a remarkable eight goals throughout the tournament.