Sporting Kansas City defender Ian James has been called up to the United States U-17 Men’s National Team for a training camp in Noordwijk, Netherlands, scheduled from September 1 to 8. The camp will be led by head coach Gonzalo Segares.
During the camp, the U.S. team will play two friendly matches against the Netherlands U-17s at Gemeentelijk Sportpark SJC on September 5 and September 8. These matches are part of the team’s ongoing preparations for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. At that tournament, the United States is set to compete in Group I against Burkina Faso on November 5, Tajikistan on November 8, and Czechia on November 11.
James, who is 17 years old and plays as a center back, joined Sporting Kansas City’s first team before the start of the 2025 MLS season. He previously participated with the national squad during a March training camp in Costa Rica and initially joined the U-17 program last November at a camp held in West Palm Beach, Florida.
On February 25, James became Sporting Kansas City’s second-youngest player to appear in an official match when he played in a Concacaf Champions Cup game against Inter Miami CF at just over sixteen years old. Only Gianluca Busio debuted for Sporting KC at a younger age back in 2018.
Earlier this summer, James made his first three appearances in Major League Soccer with Sporting KC during a period where the club earned seven points out of nine possible. He debuted on June 25 during a home win over Charlotte FC and started his first league match three days later against Real Salt Lake. At seventeen years and twenty-two days old, he became Sporting’s second youngest starter ever for an MLS match. On July 4, he played another half during an away victory over Colorado Rapids and most recently appeared as a substitute against Seattle Sounders FC.
So far this season, James has also started eight matches for Sporting KC II in MLS NEXT Pro competition.
James signed his Homegrown contract with Sporting Kansas City on December 6, becoming both their fourth youngest signing overall and their youngest defender ever to sign an MLS deal. Since joining Sporting’s Academy system in 2021, he has represented youth teams from U-14 through U-19 levels and took part in last summer’s MLS NEXT All-Star Game held in Columbus.
Sporting Kansas City’s next home fixture is scheduled for Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park against Colorado Rapids. Tickets are available through SeatGeek.com with live coverage provided via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
