Welcome to Toronto

The United States Youth Futsal National Teams arrived in Toronto Saturday with little fanfare but enormous excitement. Fifty-three of the best futsal players from across the country met their teammates and started to bond in advance of international matches scheduled for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday with top Canadian teams.

The outstanding efforts of coordinator Soorena Farboodmanesh made for a very smooth start to the trip -- arrivals, the welcome meeting and the kit distribution went swimmingly.

If the first few hours were any indication, it will indeed be an incredible futsal experience for everyone. I am proud to be a part of U.S. Youth Futsal and honored to be serving as coach of the U16 girls team.

This long-awaited competition is a wonderful opportunity to develop individually and collectively, and show the world that the U.S. Youth Futsal National Teams play with tremendous quality, intensity and class. 

Over the next few days this space will be filled by the players, who will share their observations from this historic event.

~ Jason Miller, Director of Communications, U.S. Youth Futsal

Youth National Team schedule & rosters announced

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. (Dec. 24, 2014) - The final rosters and schedule have been announced for this week's U.S. Youth Futsal National Team trip to Toronto. "It is an historical event in our country's futsal history," said U.S. Youth Futsal Technical Director Keith Tozer. "I am looking forward to some great international futsal!" The first-ever youth national futsal teams will compete against top Canadian clubs in a three match series at the brand new, $205 million dollar Toronto Pan American Sports Centre, a legacy project of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Games. "We are excited to bring this great event to the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, which we look to make one of the preeminent venues for the game on the continent," said Rafa Torre, Director of Sport and Recreation for TPASC.    The U.S. Youth Futsal teams were selected after a year-long sequence of regional and national identification camps, which led to the first-ever boys and girls youth national futsal teams.   "We are very pleased to welcome our neighbors from the south for what will be a fantastic event at a phenomenal venue," said Kris Fernandes, Futsal Canada's Director of Operations. "We will see some excellent young futsallers from across North America showcasing their skills on the court." Leading the United States' delegation are Tozer, Director of Goalkeeping Mark Litton and youth national team coaches Craig Canavan, Fabio Caresia, Soorena Farboodmanesh, Jason Miller, Otto Orf and Ty Stauffer.  "We have been waiting a very long time for this to happen and are making history for futsal in North America," said Tozer, who also serves as head coach of the U.S. Men's National Futsal Team. "I cannot tell you how excited I am for this historic trip to Canada!" U14 (2000-01) Boys Match Schedule  12/29, 12 pm 12/30, 3 pm 12/31, 11:30 am  U14 (2000-01) Girls Match Schedule  12/29, 3 pm  12/30, 12 pm  12/31, 10 am  U16 (1998-99) Boys Match Schedule  12/29, 1:30 pm  12/30, 4:30 pm  12/31, 2:30 pm  U16 (1998-99) Girls Match Schedule  12/29, 4:30 pm  12/30, 1:30 pm  12/31, 1 pm  U14 (2000-01) Boys Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): David Merola (Overland Park, Kan.), Alex Wood (Westford, Mass.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (12): Bryce Blevins (Plainfield, Ill.), Joel Bustamante (Chula Vista, Calif.), Eric Calvillo (Manassas, Va.), Nathaniel Cardoza (South Easton, Mass.), Trent Dreyer (Lewisville, Texas), Jonathan Ferreira (Ashland, Mass.), Johan Gomez (Keller, Texas), Jonah Moore (Washington), Byron Peng (Coppell, Texas), Luke Rafanan (Overland Park, Kan.), Max Rugova (Overland Park, Kan.), Alexander Vivar (San Diego, Calif.) U14 (2000-01) Girls Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Shelby Helton (Owensboro, Ky.), Bobbi Sandifer (Owensboro, Ky.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (11): Tiffany Bernot (Old Westbury, N.Y.), Renae Blevins (Plainfield, Ill.), Gabriella DelPico (Brockton, Mass.), Natalie Hinchcliffe (Owensboro, Ky.), Felicia Knox (Shawnee, Kan.), Jessica Magerman (Bellingham, Mass.), Amber McCorkle (San Diego, Calif.), Vida Raietparvar (Denton, Texas), Mackenzie Simpson (San Diego, Calif.), Abby Smith (Flower Mound, Texas), Annie Stauffer (Owensboro, Ky.) U16 (1998-99) Boys Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Colton Purcell (Frisco, Texas), Steven Tekesky (Raymore, Mo.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (12): Alec Bakkeby (San Diego), Fernando Borges (Olathe, Kan.), Alex Kaddah (Blue Springs, Mo.), John Leisman (Kansas City, Mo.), Andrew McLeod (Overland Park, Kan.), Duncan Mergen (Long Valley, N.J.), Stephen Milhoan (Medina, Ohio), Graham Miller (Owensboro, Ky.), Nathan Peterjohn (North Royalton, Ohio), Christopher Pinkham (Concord, N.H.), Tucker Sparks (Plano, Texas), Paul Whitener (Kansas City, Mo.) U16 (1998-99) Girls Roster GOALKEEPERS (2): Kiara Grimes (West Sayville, N.Y.), Amber Huff (Boulevard, Calif.) OUTFIELD PLAYERS (10): Riley Christensen (Waukesha, Wis.), Mikayla Kappes (San Diego, Calif.), Tziarra King (Sicklerville, N.J.), Raleigh Loughman (Coppell, Texas), Candace Metcalfe (Freeport, Fla.), Lauryn Oishi (Honolulu), Madallyn Peveler (Owensboro, Ky.), Ellie Pope (Concord, N.H.), Auburn Suttles (Chandler, Ind.), Francesca Venezia (Wantagh, N.Y.)