While various other youth national teams have been hopping around the globe, the U17 Men’s National Team has been on a bit of a hiatus. After the first semester as part of the Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida concluded a couple of months ago, the U17s have been without an international event since May. 

The temporary relief from a crowded schedule sets up time to assess the future for this group. Last week, CONCACAF announced that Panama would host the 2017 CONCACAF U17 Championship, which kicks off in late April. With just over eight months to go, the U.S. group still seems a long way off from the crucial World Cup qualifying event, which the U.S. is hoping to win for the first time since 2011. 

The recess from team activities have been a worthwhile period for the players though as captain Chris Durkin and top attacker Andrew Carleton both signed Homegrown Player contracts with D.C. United and Atlanta United respective. Despite both being part of professional franchises, the pair is returning to Florida for the Residency Program’s next semester. 

U.S. U17 MNT head coach John Hackworth is betting big on the Residency Program and himself during this World Cup cycle.