Sporting Kansas City Academy forward Matias Flores has been chosen to participate in the first-ever U.S. National Team training camp at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, according to a May 6 announcement.
The selection is part of U.S. Soccer’s ongoing efforts to expand and improve its Men’s Youth National Team player pool through the annual Under-14 Boys’ Talent Identification (TID) camp, which will take place from May 8-13 at the new facility in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Sixty players were picked from three regional mini camps held earlier this spring and will be divided into teams representing North, South, and West regions. The camp will be led by Garret Biller, Director of Talent Identification for Men’s Youth National Teams, with squads coached by Dan Donigan and Rob Irvine (North), Arturo Alvarez and Chris Kranjc (South), and Junior Burgos and Roberto Gimenez (West).
A key aspect of the TID program is to introduce more top talents at the Under-14 level into the scouting system for older youth national teams ranging from Under-15 to Under-20 age groups. The mini-camp format aims to evaluate high-potential players while accelerating their development in a challenging environment.
Flores is one of six forwards selected for the South region team, joining players from clubs such as Austin FC, Orlando City SC, Colorado Rapids, FC Florida, and AFC Lightning Soccer Club. The roster also includes goalkeepers Mario Martinez Reyes (Orlando City SC) and Owen Rodier (Inter Miami CF), as well as defenders Evan Boyette (FC Dallas) among others.
The program further seeks to strengthen U.S. Soccer’s network of scouts by involving them as coaches with regional teams during these camps.
