|
|
 |
|
The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team was created to aid in the transition for younger players between the Under-17 Men’s National Team and the Under-20 side. The Under-18 age group is for players born in the odd-numbered years, who fall in a gap between the Under-17 and the Under-20 age groups.
At the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in UAE, 10 of the players on the U.S. Under-20 roster had spent time with the Under-18 Men’s National Team program, and those players in the current pool, born on or after January 1, 1991, are eligible for both the 2009 and 2011 FIFA Under-20 World Cups.
Although less heralded, the U.S. Under-18s have been one of U.S. Soccer’s most successful teams in recent years, earning wins against Portugal and Paraguay in 2008 while compiling a 4-3-1 record. Along with international games and trips, the U-18 MNT plays friendlies against Development Acadmey U-17/18 teams and some of the top college programs in the country.
In December, U.S. Soccer announced that Mike Matkovich has been named head coach of the Under-18 Men’s National Team. A former assistant coach with Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC and Chivas USA, Matkovic founded the Chicago Magic Soccer Club in 1987.
Under Matkovic, the U-18s will kick off 2009 with a 72-player mega-camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Several other training camps, both domestic and foreign, are currently being planned throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team 
Did you know?