Xolos Youth Called to U18 USMNT
The U18 U.S. Men’s National Team has called up several Club Tijuana players as the January Camp is held this week. The Tijuana players called to the U18 MNT camp are longtime members of the Xolos Youth Academy and will put their skills to the test in Florida.
Soccer News: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles youth players Jonathan Esparza, Angel Uribe, Brian Perez and Ernesto Espinoza have been named to the United States National Team U18 January camp.
The four Xoloitzcuintles will be part of coach Omid Namazi’s 28-player camp held at the IMG Academy in Bredenton, Florida. The camp will be held from from January 23-30 with the U18 team playing friendly matches against the U17 squad.
Esparza is a 17-year-old defender from Chula Vista, California. He has been a member of Club Tijuana’s U17 squad since 2014 and recently suited up for the Xoloitzcuintles’ U20 squad.
Uribe, 17, is part of Club Tijuana’s U20 squad. He has played in the last two games for the Xoloitzcuintles youth squad and is a product of the club’s youth system, playing in Tijuana since 2013.
Perez is in his first campaign with the Club Tijuana U20 squad. He’s played in two of three matches in the 2017 Clausura, starting against Morelia and Chivas. The 17-year-old defensive midfielder began with Club Tijuana’s U13 team, moving his way through the U15 and U17 teams. He was a regular starter with the U17s last season, scoring six goals in 2016.
Espinoza, 17, is also a newcomer to the U20 team. He has played in 60 U17 games and recently suited up with Club Tijuana’s Segunda Division squad. The striker was also part of the U15, U13 and Tercera Division squads for Club Tijuana.
Espinoza was a regular on the United States U18 squad last year. He was called to numerous camps and competitions, including the Slovakia Cup and Vaclav Jezek Tournament.
Photo Credit: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles
