Impressive Outings for USYNTs in Europe

The United States’ U-17, U-19 and U-20 National Teams wrapped up their training camp in Spain with strong performances and positive results across all age groups.

The U-17s ended their trip with an impressive 3-2 win over Portugal in a thrilling match that showcased their attacking depth and resilience. Defender Astin Mbaye opened the scoring in the 7th minute, giving the U.S. an early lead. Portugal equalized early in the second half through Joao Brito, but the Americans responded quickly. Daniel Barrett restored the advantage with a composed finish in the 58th minute, before Will Ostrander extended the lead to 3-1 in the 73rd. Portugal pulled one back in stoppage time through Alfredo Semedo, but it wasn’t enough to stop the U.S. from securing a well-earned victory.

The U-19 National Team continued their encouraging form with a 2-2 draw against Belgium, following their dominant 4-0 win over Northern Ireland last Saturday. In a physical and tightly contested match, Ervin Torres found the back of the net in the 68th minute to bring the U.S. level, and ten minutes later, Hungarian-American winger Daniel Pinter struck again (77’) to complete the comeback and secure a solid result against a strong European opponent.

Meanwhile, the U-20s — featuring a roster primarily made up of 2006-born players — defeated Elche’s youth side 3-0 in their only match of the tour. Their scheduled game against Finland’s U-21s was canceled last week due to weather conditions, but the Americans made the most of their single outing in Spain. The match served as valuable preparation for a group expected to play key roles in the next U-20 World Cup cycle.

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The Messi Cup: A New Global U-16 Tournament Arrives in Miami

Lionel Messi has officially announced the launch of the first-ever Messi Cup, an international U-16 tournament set to take place in Miami from Dec. 9–14. The competition will bring together some of the most prestigious clubs in world football, including River Plate, Barcelona, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, among others.

Messi shared the news personally on social media, writing, “I can finally tell you that in December, a very special youth tournament is coming to Miami, featuring several of the best clubs in the world. There will also be many other activities throughout the week — I hope you all enjoy it!”

Over the course of six days, the participating teams will compete in elite-level matches while also engaging in cultural and sports industry events designed to make the Messi Cup much more than just a competition — it’s envisioned as a global celebration of the next generation of football talent.

The format will feature eight teams divided into two groups of four, with each group playing a round-robin stage. The top teams will then advance to the playoffs, culminating in a third-place match and a grand final, both of which will be held at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, where the first-ever Messi Cup champion will be crowned.