US Club Soccer id2 tour headed to Argentina

by US Club Soccer
November 18, 2014

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Nov. 18, 2014) – The 2015 id² National Selection International Tour, Feb. 28-March 10, is heading to South America for the first time in program history.

The id2 National Selection will be immersed in a multi-faceted experience on- and off-the-field that includes competing against top Argentinian youth academy teams, watching professional games and playing in some of the country’s best facilities. 

The 2015 tour is the final programming element of the id2 Program cycle targeting boys born in 2001. The id2 National Selection roster will be announced after the fourth id2 Training Camp of the cycle, which will take place Dec. 11-14 at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Over the past five years, id2 National Selection teams traveled to Germany and the Netherlands in 2010, England and Scotland in 2011, Spain in 2012 and 2013 and Italy in 2014. Opponents have included FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City FC, Everton FC, Celtic FC, AFC Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven.

The group will arrive in Houston on Feb. 28 for a brief domestic base camp before flying to Argentina the evening of March 1. After a full schedule, which will be released at a later date, the id2 National Selection squad returns to American soil on March 11.

“By taking our team to Argentina, we’re exposing our players to one of the most competitive soccer environments in the world,” Gerry McKeown, US Club Soccer’s id2 Boys Program Director and head coach of id2 National Selection, said. “It will be a new and exciting scene for our id2 Program to be a part of, and we welcome the challenge.” 

U.S. Soccer Technical Advisor Juan Carlos Michia will accompany the group on the tour in order to scout players for potential inclusion in youth national team programming. US Club Soccer Board of Directors member John Rennie will serve as Head of Delegation.

Numerous id2 National Selection alumni have been called into U.S. Soccer’s National Team programs, including nearly a dozen players recently selected to represent the U-16 Boys National Team and the U-20 Men’s National Team.

As has been the case in past international trips, video journals will be made available from Argentina. Video journals from past trips are available here: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010.

Consistent with US Club Soccer’s philosophy that identification and development should be free to players, the organization is funding the trip in conjunction with the strong support of Nike; there is no cost to players. The id2 Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic Committee and U.S. Soccer Federation.

The 2015 id2 National Selection International Tour is again being coordinated in conjunction with Premier International Tours.

ABOUT US CLUB SOCCER:

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer is an organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs in the United States.

US Club Soccer offers youth and adult registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Development Program-sanctioned id2 Program and Player Development Programs. 

Through US Club Soccer, all of a club’s programs – recreational, competitive and adult – are able to be united under one organizational umbrella, creating a “members for life” culture within each club. US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike.

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