Four products of the Inter Miami CF Academy have been selected to represent their national teams at the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, scheduled to begin July 24, 2024, in Mexico. The quartet includes First Team players Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw, as well as Academy players Cai McLean and Kendry Villafuerte.
The tournament features 12 nations divided into three groups, with the top two teams from each group plus the two best third-place finishers advancing to the knockout stage. The four semifinalists will earn qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027, which will be hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. The tournament champion also secures a berth in the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw will represent the United States U-20 team, competing in Group A alongside Haiti, El Salvador, and Cuba. Their group matches are set for July 25 against Haiti, July 28 versus El Salvador, and July 31 facing Cuba, all to be held at Estadio Universitario BUAP in Puebla, Mexico.
Academy center back Cai McLean has been selected for the Jamaica U-20 squad in Group C, where Jamaica will face Honduras on July 26, Panama on July 29, and Canada on August 1, with all matches at the same venue.
Academy defender Kendry Villafuerte will represent Honduras U-20, also in Group C. Honduras’ schedule includes matches versus Jamaica on July 26, Canada on July 29, and Panama on August 1.
Source: Original report