Barca Residency Academy’s Graham Ford and Julian Pierik have been called up to the U.S. Soccer U-16 Men’s Youth National team for a training camp set to take place February 18-25 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Head Coach Alex Aldaz has called up 24 players for this event, all born in 2009.
The Barca Residency Academy duo of midfielder Graham Ford and goalkeeper Julian Pierik are among just three non-MLS club players called up to the camp. Both players are an integral part of their U16 MLS Next team’s core and their collective success this season. Their performances were highlighted by a GA Cup Qualifier Finals appearance at the 2024 MLS Next Fest, and an undefeated season thus far as they sit at the top of the Southwest Division standings with an undefeated 16-0-4 record.
All players attending the February camp are age-eligible for this year’s 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. The USA earned its berth for the 2008-birth year world championship last week by topping Group F at the 2025 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers. Starting in 2025, the U-17 World Cup is now an annual event. This group of 2009-birth year players will form the core of the group that will compete at the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers and FIFA U-17 World Cup.
