ATLANTA – Four players from the USL Championship have been selected for U.S. Soccer’s upcoming U-19 MNT (2007) and U-17 MNT (2009) international training camps to be held during the November FIFA window, with Sacramento Republic FC defender Chibi Ukaegbu and midfielder Blake Willey named in the U-19s squad and Orange County SC defender Tyson Espy and San Antonio FC midfielder Landry Walker named in the U-17s squad.  

Both teams will train and play matches during the week, with the U-19 MNT (2007) camping in Wrexham, Wales and the U-17 MNT (2009) going to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Willey is set to wrap up a successful year representing the United States, having been part of the side that won the UEFA Friendship Cup in Switzerland in June. The 18-year-old midfielder had a breakout season for Republic FC this year, logging 1,696 minutes in 28 appearances across the regular season and playoffs while recording three assists on 13 chances created and a passing accuracy rate of 84.8 percent.

Ukaegbu continued to be a regular in the USYNT program, having last month represented the U-20s at its camp in  Spain. The 18-year-old center back regularly saw action for Sacramento over the course of the campaign, logging 823 minutes in 16 appearances while recording 36 clearances, 16 interceptions and winning 11 tackles at a 64.7 percent success rate.

Walker made history in San Antonio this season, becoming the youngest player in club history to start a USL Championship contest aged 16 years, 100 days old in August. The central midfielder recorded 266 minutes across seven appearances this season, logging a passing accuracy rate of 78.4 percent and one chance created, and now earns his first call-up to the U.S. U-17s having previously been selected at the U-15 level.

Espy returns to the U-17s squad after last being called up for camp in September having become the latest addition to Orange County’s talented young squad. The 16-year-old joined the professional ranks with OCSC this summer having competed previously for the Los Angeles FC Academy. He recorded three appearances in the USL Championship as the side earned a place in the 2025 USL Championship Playoffs.

November’s camps are a part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.