CHICAGO(Nov. 12, 2019) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that midfielder Javier Casas, midfielder Brian Gutierrez, forward Alex Monis and goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina have been named to the U.S. U-16 Boys’ National Team roster that will participate at the 2019 Nike International Friendlies from Nov. 14-18 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
The four-team tournament will feature the U.S. U-17 Men’s and U-16 Boys’ National Teams along with theU-17 national teams of Turkey and the Netherlands.
Slonina is one of five players on the U.S. U-16 BNT roster signed to an MLS Homegrown contract, along with forwards Tyler Freeman and Dante Sealy, midfielder Moses Nyeman and defender Casey Walls. Slonina became the youngest Homegrown signing in league history when he signed with the Club in March.
Launched in 2001 before adopting the current format in 2008, the Nike International Friendlies were founded to provide top-level competition for the U-17 MNT and stand as one of the premier annual events on the youth soccer calendar. Seven players currently in camp with the senior MNT participated in past Nike International Friendlies: Paul Arriola, Corey Baird, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Josh Sargent. The event has also seen international talent like Brazil’s Phillipe Coutinho, Neymar and Marcelo and England’s Jadon Sancho grace the field at Premier Sports Campus.
2019 NIKE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES SCHEDULE
Thursday, Nov. 14
Netherlands vs. U-16 BNT, 2:30 p.m. CT
Turkey vs. U-17 MNT, 5:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Nov. 16
Netherlands vs. Turkey, 2:30 p.m. CT
U-16 BNT vs. U-17 MNT, 5:30 p.m. CT
Monday, Nov. 18
U-16 BNT vs. Turkey, 2:30 p.m. CT
U-17 MNT vs. Netherlands, 5:30 p.m. CT
