Four Austin FC Academy players have been invited to the U.S. Youth National Team's U-14 Talent ID Central/South Regional Mini-Camp: Alvaro Gonzalez, Jonathan Ayala, Cesar Balderas, and Jorge Rivera. The players will take part in the camp from March 9-13 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
“We’re excited for all four players to gain this experience at this stage of their development,” said Austin FC Academy General Manager Tyson Wahl. “We wish them the best of luck competing at the camp and we know they’ll represent our academy well.”
Gonzalez, Ayala, Balderas, and Rivera are the latest additions to a rapidly-growing list of current and former Austin FC Academy players called up for U.S. Youth National Team involvement. Micah Burton scored three goals in six matches, including an incredible free kick, for the U.S. at the Concacaf U-17 Championship last month, bringing his tally to five total goals with the U-17s after he scored against Portugal and Uruguay in friendlies last year. Ervin Torres (U.S. U-16) and Gavin Wolff (U.S. U-15) have also earned youth national team call-ups already in 2023.
Owen Wolff and Anthony De Anda – two players who moved up from the Austin FC Academy to the Club’s professional teams – have been regularly called up to U.S. youth national teams as well.
Wolff, who signed for the Austin FC first team as the Club’s first-ever Homegrown player in 2021, took part in the U-20 U.S. Men’s Youth National Team domestic training camp in January. He was also a member of the U.S. U-19 team which won the Slovenia Nations Cup last September, scoring a goal against Croatia.
De Anda took part in the U.S. U-19 training camp in California last summer, and was named an MLS NEXT All-Star for his performance with the Austin FC U-17 team. He became the first Austin FC Academy player to sign with Austin FC II on January 23.
