Chester- The Philadelphia Union organization continues to shine on the national stage as four players were named to the United States U-17 Men’s National Team Camp ahead of the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November. The squad, selected by coach Gonzalo Segares, will train in Fayetteville, Georgia October 6-10. Following the camp, Segares will select his final 21-man roster to play in the U-17 World Cup. Matches begin on November 3, with the US being in Group I with Burkina Faso (Nov. 5), Tajikistan (Nov. 8), and Czechia (Nov. 11).

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The Union boasts the most participants from a single club in the roster, with Jordan Griffin, Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan getting the call. All have been impactful with Union II this season as that squad has risen to the top of the Eastern Conference in MLS Next Pro and are tied at the moment in points with New York Red Bulls II (who has the tiebreaker).

Defender Jordan Griffin and forward Jamir Johnson, both amateurs with the Union Academy who play for Union II, featured in 2024 with Union II, but have made more of an impact with the second team this season. Johnson has made 12 appearances with Union II for 169 minutes and has two goals and one assist. He has come off the bench so far, but has brought a great energy late in the games. Griffin has appeared in 18 matches for 1,062 minutes, with one goal and two assists. He has started 11 games and has taken on a larger role at left back since Isaiah LeFlore was loaned out.

LeBlanc, who typically plays as an attacking midfielder but is listed as a forward, has 1,389 minutes in 24 appearances for Union II, with three goals and four assists. He signed a professional contract with Union II this season, and has become a key cog in the lineup.

Midfielder Cavan Sullivan, who is signed professionally to the Union but also plays for Union II, brings a lot of skill and experience from straddling the line of playing against grown men at the MLS level and playing under that pressure, and in MLS Next Pro where he gets good development opportunities as well. Sullivan has 179 minutes with the first team in 10 appearances (one MLS start). With Union II, he has played 911 minutes in 13 matches with six goals and five assists.

Johnson, LeBlanc, and Sullivan were most recently at the U-17 camp in September and have had multiple call ups. Griffin has also had multiple call ups. Griffin, Johnson, and LeBlanc all played in the Concacaf Qualifiers in February in Costa Rica. All four will look to impress and make the squad for the U-17 World Cup, which will be announced in mid-October. While it may impact their availability in the playoffs for both the Union and Union II, it is a tremendous honor and opportunity for the young men, and another testament to the strong reputation and tradition of the Philadelphia Union.

Main article photo credit: Philadelphia Union/Union II