CHICAGO (May 22, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC and U.S. Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire Academy defender Christopher Cupps and forward Vitaliy Hlyut have been called to the U.S. U-16 Men’s Youth National Team for an international training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The camp will run from May 22-30 and will feature matches against Uruguay on Monday, May 27, and hosts, Argentina, on Thursday, May 30.
Both members of the Chicago Fire Academy at the U-17 age level, both Cupps and Hlyut have featured consistently for Chicago Fire FC II during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season.
Cupps has played in five matches (three starts) for Chicago Fire II in 2024, logging 278 minutes. Most recently, the Chicago defender was part of the domestic training camp in January 2023 that included the U.S. U-15 and U-16 MYNT.
Hlyut has logged 183 minutes for Chicago’s MLS NEXT Pro side over the course of four matches (one start). The young forward made his professional debut and scored his first professional goal in the 6-0 win against Chicago City SC on Wednesday, March 20, in the First Round of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Hlyut was a member of the U.S. U-16 MYNT that gathered for training camp in Florida in April.
