FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (February 20, 2024) – Two New England Revolution Academy products and Massachusetts natives have been selected by their respective national teams ahead of the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship taking place across five venues in Central America and the Caribbean from February 23 to March 2. Revolution II forward Olger Escobar earns his sixth international call-up with Guatemala, while Revolution Academy midfielder Jamie Kabuusu collects his first selection from Grenada.
A Malden, Mass. native, Escobar is set to embark on his first full professional season with Revolution II after signing a second team contract last July. After becoming a two-time U-19 MLS NEXT Cup champion, the 17-year-old forward was named the 2022-23 UnitedHealthcare Revolution Academy Player of the Year, an annual award given to the most outstanding amateur player in the Revolution’s pro pathway. Escobar was also named the 2023 U-17 MLS NEXT MVP and made 16 appearances for Revolution II in 2023. Escobar registered his first senior cap for the Guatemala Men’s National Team during an international friendly against Jamaica last November.
Kabuusu collects his first international call-up with Grenada after joining Revolution Academy in 2020. The Chestnut Hill, Mass. native tallied one goal in the Fall 2023 season and helped New England’s U-17s reach the third round of the 2023 MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs. On the collegiate level, Kabuusu, a midfielder, has committed to Duke University and will join the Blue Devils this upcoming fall. The 17-year-old has logged professional experience by training regularly with Revolution II over the last year.
Guatemala will compete in Group C alongside Curacao, Aruba, Saint Martin, and Barbados while Grenada will take on Jamaica, Bermuda, and Martinique in Group F. After round-robin play, the first-place team from each group will advance in the 2024 Concacaf Men’s U-20 Championship, joining the six pre-seeded top-ranked nations. At the conclusion of the competition, the four semi-finalists will qualify for the 2025 FIFA Men’s U-20 World Cup.
New England Revolution II continues preseason training in Foxborough this month as they prepare to open the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season on Sunday, March 24 at Philadelphia Union II with a 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff at Subaru Park. Revolution II’s full 2024 schedule can be viewed here.
