CHESTER, Pa.—US Soccer announced Thursday that US U-17 National Team head coach Alex Aldaz has selected his roster for the upcoming Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two young talents from the Philadelphia Union have been selected to the squad, with a third as an alternate. The US is looking to qualify for a record 20th FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance, and eight teams from the tournament will qualify.

Union Academy goalkeeper Matthew White and Union II striker Malik Jakupovic have been named to the 21-player roster, while Union II midfielder Willyam Ferreira is an alternate and will attend the pre-camp in West Palm Beach, Florida beginning on January 27. The U-17 Qualifiers will take place February 5-10, and aim to make a return trip to Qatar in November for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

34 teams will be divided into eight groups during the Concacaf Qualifiers, which each group winner punching their ticket to the U-17 World Cup. The United States will be in Group E and play at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown. Broadcast information is forthcoming. Their matches are as follows:

Thursday, February 5, 6:00 PM ET: St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Saturday, February 7, 7:00 PM ET: St. Kitts and Nevis

Tuesday, February 10, 1:00 PM ET: Dominican Republic

Four members of the Union represented the United States in the 2025 U-17 World Cup in Jordan Griffin, Jamir Johnson, Kellan LeBlanc, and Cavan Sullivan. Now Jakupovic and White, and possibly Ferreira, get to continue the legacy of strong representation in the Qualifiers and the U-17 World Cup, should they qualify.

Neil Pierre Loaned to Lyngby

Also announced on Thursday was the loan of 2025 MLS Next Pro Defender of the Year Neil Pierre to Danish first division side Lyngby Boldklub through June 2026. From the Union’s press release:

“The loan is part of Philadelphia Union’s strategic partnership with Lyngby Boldklub, aimed at enhancing player development and fostering international collaboration. Through this partnership, Lyngby serves as an additional platform for competitive experience while strengthening the Union’s global network for player and staff development.”

The homegrown center back from Lebanon, PA and YSC graduate was signed to the Union’s first team in 2025, but spent most of his time playing for Union II. He made his MLS debut against Vancouver on September 13, 2025. In 2025 for Union II, he started all 20 of his regular season appearances and had 1,592 minutes, and scored four goals. He also played every minute of the three playoff games. According to head coach Bradley Carnell during his press conference on Thursday, Lyngby could provide a stepping stone in Pierre’s development as there is still quite a jump to the MLS level:

“We always want to be in control of who we’re sending out and for what time frame, and that will help us get through to the midpoint in our season and through the World Cup break,” Carnell said. “Just to progress along Neil’s development. We’ve felt that he had reached a point at the Next Pro now, playing against different looking opponents, maybe foreign opponents, and this is a real push with our cooperation with Lyngby in terms of the development factor, so just closing the gap between Next Pro and MLS, and then there’s a mid-station there with Lyngby.

“Also, going out of your comfort zone is a big one…I think he will grow as a person and as a player as well. And who knows- the transition could be really quick, and we might need another cycle. For him to accept that and really think about his career as a step forwards…this will be good for us to gauge his further development as well.”

Last season, CJ Olney, Oliver Semmle, and Isaiah LeFlore were loaned out to USL clubs. On why Pierre was sent abroad instead of staying domestically and playing in USL, Carnell touted the good challenges Pierre would face.

“It’s playing against international competition, it’s European soccer, it’s different types of challenges you’re faced with every day,” Carnell explained. “New culture, new language, new teammates, coming out of your comfort zone… and this is something we’ve expressed together in end of year meetings with Neil.

“He thought that going out on loan would be a better option for him to go and explore and grow one more time and to challenge himself on international waters. It think it’s what everyone wants, and if we can get this partnership [with Lyngby] up and running as another sort of layer in our development cycle, this is going to be so beneficial to us.

With it being a shorter loan, depending on how his development goes, Pierre could be back to play a role after the World Cup break, or perhaps his loan will be extended to continue building overseas. It is clear the Union value his growth and his talent, and with this being the first use of the partnership with Lyngby, a good test of the benefits of the partnership.

Main article photos courtesy of Philadelphia Union II and Philadelphia Union Academy