Two of the top prospects in the Sounders pipeline, forwards Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Ray Serrano, returned to Seattle this week after a recent stint with the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team. In preparation for the upcoming U-17 World Cup Qualification process, the young Yanks ventured to Costa Rica for a series of matches against the Mexico U-17s and Costa Rica U-17s, playing each nation twice.
With the opportunity to represent the Stars & Stripes at a World Cup looming over the horizon, Serrano and Ocampo-Chavez, both of whom are full-fledged professionals with Sounders FC 2, compiled a strong case for future inclusion ahead of the Qualifiers.