CHICAGO (Jan. 4, 2023) - Chicago Fire FC today announced that Jhon Durán has been called to the Colombia U-20 Men’s National Team for the 2023 CONMEBOL Torneo Sudamericano that is scheduled to take place from Jan. 19-Feb. 12, 2023 in Cali, Colombia and Bogotá, Colombia. The tournament determines the four participants from South America at the 2023 U-20 FIFA World Cup.
Durán and the team will train in Bogotá, Colombia from Jan. 5-18 prior to the start of the 2023 U-20 CONMEBOL tournament. The first round of the tournament will take place in Cali, Colombia, and the second leg of the tournament concludes in the capital of Bogotá. Colombia will form part of Group A along with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Peru.
This will mark Durán’s second appearance with the Colombia U-20 squad, after two international friendlies against Perú in December. This will also mark his second time playing under U-20 MNT head coach Héctor Cárdenas, who was appointed head coach of the Colombia U-20 team in May of 2022.
Prior to the friendlies, Durán had appeared for Colombia at the U-17 and senior team levels. Durán registered 26 minutes in Colombia’s 2-0 win against Paraguay on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. In his senior team debut, Durán subbed in for legendary Colombian striker, Radamel Falcao, in the 4-1 win against Guatemala that took place on Sept. 24, 2022.
At the club level, Durán was awarded the 2022 Chicago Fire FC Golden Boot winner after registering a team-high eight goals, while also adding three assists in his first season in MLS. His ‘golden’ debut season made him the youngest Golden Boot winner in Club history, and the eighth player to win the award in their first season with the Fire. Additionally, he became just the 12th player in MLS history to record at least 10 combined goals and assists in a single season at the age of 18 or younger.
