CHICAGO (Aug. 29, 2024) – Chicago Fire FC and U.S. Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire Academy defender Christopher Cupps and forward Vitaliy Hlyut have been called up to the U.S. U-17 Men’s Youth National Team for an international training camp from Aug. 30-Sept. 9. The U.S. will participate in the Ježek Cup in Hustopeče, Czech Republic, where they will face Germany, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Cupps, 16, and Hlyut, 16, are members of the Chicago Fire Academy at the U-18 level and have featured consistently for Chicago Fire FC II during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Hlyut also represented the Fire at the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, and both players have represented the U.S. at the U-16 MYNT age level.
Cupps has started 10 of the 13 games in which he has played for Chicago Fire II in MLS NEXT Pro, logging 928 minutes so far in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular season. Cupps made his professional debut at home on April 10 in the 5-5 tie against New York Red Bulls II.
Hlyut has scored one goal in the MLS NEXT Pro regular season in 620 minutes logged for Chicago Fire II over the course of 13 matches (five starts). Hlyut 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.
U.S. U-17 MYNT head coach and former Fire player Gonzalo Segares will lead his squad against Germany on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The U.S. will the face the hosts Czech Republic on Friday, Sept. 6, before closing out the tournament against Slovakia on Sunday, Sept. 8.
