FC Dallas Partners With Benfica and U17 CONCACAF Team Of The Tournament

Partnerships between European clubs and MLS academies are ever-growing in today’s world. LAFC and Fc Bayern Munich have already been in collaboration for awhile now. LAFC routinely sends players over to Bayern to train wit their academy. Most recently, MLS Next all stars Adrian Wibowo and Shakir Nixon made the trip along with a few others. FC Bayern Munich have also expressed interest in LAFC homegrown Bajung Darboe. Darboe is a 2006 who is yet to make his debut wit the first team.

FC Dallas Partner with Benfica

Fc Dallas and Benfica announced an official youth development partnership this past Tuesday. The objective of this is to promote youth development in both the United States and Portugal. Fc Dallas and Benfica have also reportedly agreed to exchange coaching methodologies. This partnership will also hopefully allow select FC Dallas academy members to partake in some trainings with Benfica’s academy. A reminder as well that FC Dallas just signed designated player Peter Musa from Benfica in the January transfer window.

As for who could possibly head to Benfica to train we must take a look at the Fc Dallas U17s. One of the top teams of the country some players to look out for are Bryce Outman, Gabriel Mendonca, Kaka Scabin, and Ian Witis are all possibilities. As for the U15 squad some guys to watch here Steel Cook and Jordan Eason. Fc Dallas has gone relatively quiet in the youth scene over the past few years, but expect them to make a comeback by Generation adidas Cup.

U17 CONCACAF Championships Team Of The Tournament

As the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U17 tournament comes to a close, here is the YSC Team of the Tournament (11 players who consistently made an impact).

From the USA squad, we have Kennedy Fuller, Mel Barcenas, Alex Pfieffer, Kimmie Ascanio, and Mya Townes

Melanie Barcenas, a promising talent for the San Diego Waves, led the USA squad to victory time and time again in the Concacaf U17 Cup. Being one of only 2 professional players on the squad, Melanie has become a leader among the players. Her calmness and precision on the pitch encourages those around her to thrive under pressure, and she is a key player on the squad heading into the World Cup. 

Mya Townes, with the first goal in the Concacaf final versus Mexico, has been a force to reckon with on the US side. Her composure in front of goal makes her an incredibly valuable member of the squad and she definitely has a bright future with the National Team. 

Kennedy Fuller, a recipient of the Golden Boot for this year's Concacaf Championship, scores an unheard of number of goals for an attacking midfielder. Her creativity and high work rate at the number 10 role bolsters the US attack, and her playstyle has caught the eye of many professional scouts. After the Concacaf Cup, she is heading to Los Angeles for a trial with Angel City FC. 

Alex Pfieffer, another professional player on the US roster, scored a plethora of goals this tournament and helped the US side secure the title. The 2007 born forward plays for the Kansas City Current and looks to continue her good form during the rest of 2024. 

Kimmi Ascanio, a 2008 born midfielder out of Florida, already has 3 goals for the US National Team. Her ability to connect passes in the midfield was crucial during the tournament, and led to the US side dominating possession in each game. Ascanio ended her time at Concacaf on a good note, with a goal in the final versus Mexico. 

Lourdjina Etienne led Haiti to the semifinals in the Concacaf Tournament. She scored 8 of Haiti’s 9 goals, and won best player of the tournament. Her spark up front allowed Haiti to pull ahead in close matches, and kept them in the game against tougher opponents. 

Camila Vazquez, who won Goalkeeper of the Tournament this year, kept Mexico in the game time and time again with crucial saves and clinical distribution. Although her side fell short in the final, they still had a very successful Concacaf Run. Vazquez has a bright future, and is certainly hoping to earn a senior cap for the national team soon. 

Anabelle Chukwu, a promising young talent, is quickly making a name for herself on the global stage. With many goals and assists in the Concacaf Tournament, she has established herself as a leader and key player to the Canadian Side. Born in England, she has just started representing Canada on the international stage. In 2024, she looks to continue her strong form and continue growing as a player. 

Vanessa Aguilar, with a tremendous goal in extra time versus Canada, had multiple notable performances this tournament. Calm under pressure, and valuable in high intensity scenarios, Aguilar was a key player for Mexico’s U17 side. With the goal that sealed Mexico’s spot in the finals versus the US, Aguilar demonstrated her ability to shine in intense games. 

Carla Montes, a key player for the Mexican side, made a name for herself in the Concacaf Tournament with a clinical finish from outside the box against Canada in the Semifinals. Goals like this do not come often, and scoring in the semifinal of the largest tournament on the Western Hemisphere is a great way to start a promising career. 

Yuliana Tejera, scoring 2 goals for Panama in their emphatic win versus Puerto Rico, displayed her offensive prowess during this tournament. Her quickness on the ball and vision in the attack allowed her team to compete at a high level throughout the tournament. Her ability to positively influence teammates on the field is rare, and she looks to continue her positive form throughout 2024. 

New U.S Talent Discovered At PSV

Meet Vinny D’Annunzio from PSV. Vinny made the jump to the dutch giants after spending the first half of the season a Total Futbol Academy in southern California. Vinny is an attacking midfielder, and he has recivied high praise from notable youth scout Marcus Chairez. Chairez applauds his advanced technique and close control. Chairez also points out his scanning abilities and body positioning prior to receiving the ball. Vinny is still young; he is only a 2010 player with the U14s, but do not be surprised it you see him involved in U.S Youth National teams camps soon.