Revolution II midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic has been called up to the United States Under-20 Men's Youth National Team for its upcoming domestic camp in Carson, Calif. This marks the second U.S. Men’s Youth National Team call-up for the Revolution Academy product. Bajraktarevic previously appeared with the U-20 Men’s Youth National Team for its January camp, where he was the youngest player featured on the roster.
Bajraktarevic, 17, first joined the Revolution Academy in August 2021 and immediately earned a place with Revolution II, making his professional debut on Aug. 16, 2021. He went on to appear in 11 matches, making five starts, in his debut season. The midfielder officially signed with an MLS NEXT Pro professional contract ahead of the 2022 season and has started all three games so far this year.
Bajraktarevic is one of three 2005-born players to feature on Mikey Varas’ roster for the camp that will run from April 22-May 1. The team will train at Dignity Health Sports Park as it continues preparations for this summer’s Concacaf U-20 Championship, which will serve as qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics.
U.S. U-20 Youth Men’s National Team Roster (Club, Hometown):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire F.C.; Naperville, Ill.), Antonio Carrera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Xavier Valdez (Houston Dynamo; Bronx, N.Y.)
DEFENDERS (7): Quembol Guadalupe (Orlando City S.C.; Orlando, Fla.), Michael Halliday (Orlando City S.C.; Apopka, Fla.), Jaziel Orozco (Real Salt Lake; El Paso, Texas), Kayden Pierre (Sporting Kansas City; Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), Anthony Sorenson (Philadelphia Union; Ann Arbor, Mich.), Devan Tanton (Fulham F.C.; Orlando, Fla.), Thomas Williams (Orlando City S.C.; Titusville, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; Appleton, Wis.), Javier Casas Jr. (Chicago Fire F.C.; Addison, Ill.), Juan Castilla (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Tarun Karumanchi (UCLA; San Ramon, Calif.), Daniel Leyva (Seattle Sounders F.C.; Las Vegas, Nev.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.)
FORWARDS (6): Damion Downs (1. FC Koln; Schwenbenried, Germany), Kristian Fletcher (Unattached; Bowie, Md.), Luca Koleosho (RCD Espanyol; Trumbull, Conn.), Nathan Ordaz (Los Angeles F.C.; Encino, Calif.), Dante Sealy (PSV Eindhoven; Frisco, Texas), Tyler Wolff (Atlanta United F.C.; Braselton, Ga.)
