World-class talent on id2 boys all-time Best XI

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Nov. 8, 2022) – Ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, US Club Soccer has named its id2 boys all-time Best XI. The list includes a handful of players expected to be named to the U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team roster for the World Cup in Qatar later this month.

Founded in 2004, US Club Soccer’s id2 National Identification and Development Program has been a fixture in youth soccer for nearly two decades. The id2 Program provides opportunities for elite athletes to be identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s youth national team programming. The selections for Best XI and substitutions include players who participated in id2 programming, including id2 Training Camps and the id2 National Selection International Tour.

US Club Soccer is proud of these players, who continue to elevate the sport domestically and internationally. “These players are not only stellar athletes on the pitch but also young men of strong character off the field,” said Gerry McKeown, id2 Boys Director. “id2 scouting is more than about recognizing talented players. We look for indicators that suggest how these players approach big moments in games and details in training. We look at their work ethic. We look at what kind of teammates and leaders they are. These players had all the right attributes at 13 and 14 years old, and while success is earned every day, we continue to have confidence they’ll perform exceptionally at the highest levels.”

The years in parentheses signify the year in which they participated in id2.

U.S. Soccer will release its World Cup roster selections Wednesday, Nov. 9. A few members of the Best XI are assured selections, while a few others are on the bubble as rising stars (UPDATE: Seven id2 alumni were named to the World Cup roster). Join @USClubSoccer on Instagram Live, Thursday (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m. ET for a conversation with Dan Edelman and Caden Clark about their id2 experiences and budding professional careers (UPDATE: Rewatch the discussion here). Stay tuned for the release of the id2 girls all-time Best XI.

The id2 Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation. There is no cost for players to participate or be scouted, and all meals, lodging and gear are provided by US Club Soccer and Nike. All travel costs are provided at the id2 National Selection International Tour level. This approach to eliminating barriers to entry helps ensure the best players are able to participate.

Currently in the 2022-23 season, id2 programming is being held across the country with one-day id2 Selection events in the fall and winter, supplemented by various Player Development Programs (PDP). Those scouting efforts lead to a pair of national id2 Training Camps in January and February 2023. The final element is the highly acclaimed id2 National Selection International Tour in April 2023. The current age group cycle is boys and girls born in 2009. The age group is determined in coordination with U.S. Soccer’s youth national team scouting priorities. This allows the id2 Program to play a valuable role in a young player’s development, as he or she is exposed to a similar environment to U.S. Soccer youth national team camps and identified by id2 directors and coaches for those subsequent opportunities.

Here is the progression of id2 programming:

ID2 PROGRAMMING:

Scouting / invitation process
The id2 Program is invitation-only. id2 directors Gerry McKeown (boys) and Tricia Taliaferro (girls) lead scouting efforts through a multi-faceted process that includes scouting competitions themselves, receiving recommendations from Directors of Coaching, and consulting with a network of trusted scouts and coaches throughout the country for player leads.

id2 Selection events
id2 Selection events are one-day programs that include scouted, tactical training sessions and an 11v11 match. Regional leagues –like the National Premier Leagues member leagues –throughout the country co-host these events with US Club Soccer to facilitate a more comfortable scouting and developmental experience for players. Top performers are then invited to participate in id2 Training Camps. Typically, 30 boys and 30 girls players participate in id2 Selection events.
 
id2 Training Camps
id2 Training Camps are three-day regional identification and development camps, in which players –36 boys and 36 girls –participate in a multi-faceted experience of training sessions and games, as well as off-the-field presentations and discussions. id2 directors lead the camps alongside a collection of top club coaches from around the country. Camps include carefully curated itineraries, balancing on-field training and scrimmages, classroom presentations, nutrition and recovery. Players receive evaluations from their camp coaches to help continue their developmental journeys in their club environments back home. id2 directors share player ratings and feedback with U.S. Soccer youth national team staff for potential invitations to future youth national team programming.Watch a “day in the life” of an id2 participant from a past training camp here.
 
id2 National Selection teams
The final programming element of each id2 cycle is the selection of id2 National Selection boys and girls teams. Selected players travel internationally to train with each other and compete against some of the world’s best academy teams. Numerous professional players are former id2 National Selection team members, including: Christian Pulisic, Lindsey Horan, Tim Weah, Catarina Macario and Tyler Adams.
Pin

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Referee Development, Parent Engagement and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike, DICK'S Sporting Goods and Gatorade.

usclubsoccer.org | App | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube |