Chris Durkin, D.C. United’s most recent homegrown player signing, will join the United States under-17 national team for this week’s Nike International Friendlies series in Florida. The USYNT will play the u-17 national teams of Portugal, Turkey, and Brazil during a five-day span, with each game available to stream for free on ussoccer.com, US Soccer’s Facebook page, and the USSF Youtube channel.
No other players from the DMV have been named to the squad. Durkin is not the only player on the roster with an MLS deal, though. Andrew Carleton - Atlanta United’s first homegrown signing - and Bryan Reynolds of FC Dallas are also on the team. Durkin has frequently been chosen as the captain for John Hackworth’s under-17 national team, where he’s been training for several months.
United’s long-term plan with Durkin remains unchanged. Barring major changes, he will continue to train at the IMG Academy until the end of CONCACAF’s under-17 World Cup qualifying tournament (which runs from April 21st through May 7th of next year), and would most likely be a part of the under-17 World Cup squad in October should the US advance.