Nine MASL Players Called up to U.S. Futsal National Team
Published on February 1, 2024 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) News Release
CHICAGO - U.S. Men's Futsal National Team head coach Hewerton Moreira has called up 16 players for an international training camp to be held Feb. 5-15 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As part of U.S. Soccer's continued effort to develop winning teams, the Futsal MNT will face club teams Racing Club, San Lorenzo and Ferro in the team's last gathering before Moreira names the final roster for April's 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship, where the USA will attempt to qualify for its second-straight FIFA Futsal World Cup.
"I am extremely excited to take our players to Argentina for another important training camp," said U.S. Men's Futsal National Team head coach Hewerton Moreira. "This talented group is working tirelessly to achieve our goal of returning to the FIFA Futsal World Cup, and these three matches will be great tests for the team as we continue our preparation for Concacaf qualifying in April."
Since becoming head coach last September, Moreira has focused on building a core group of players that could gel quickly leading into April's Concacaf Futsal Championship. The February roster demonstrates that continuity, as 14 of the 16 players return from last month's camp in Rome, Ga, with 2021 World Cup veteran Zach Reget, as well as William Eskay earning recalls after not taking part in January.
Reget is joined on the roster by fellow 2021 World Cup veteran and fixo Luciano Gonzalez, who was voted 2023 U.S. Soccer Futsal Player of the Year, as well as goalkeepers Diego Moretti and Robert Damron, alas David Ortíz and Alencar Ventura-Junior and pivo Raphael Araujo.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Hometown):
Key: Fixo = Defender; Ala = Winger / Midfielder; Pivo = Target / Forward
GOALKEEPERS (2): Robert Damron*^ (Northville, Mich.; 4/0), Diego Moretti*^ (Ancona, Italy; 18/0)
FIXOS (3): Manuel Andrade^ (Boston, Mass.; 5/1), Luciano Gonzalez*^ (Mendoza, Argentina; 16/7), Marcio Leite (Milwaukee, Wis.; 0/0),
ALAS (7): Nilton Andrade (Boston, Mass.; 0/0), Diego Burato^ (Dallas, Texas; 4/2), William Eskay (St. Louis, Mo.; 4/2)^, Nicolas Lopez (Miami, Fla.; 0/0), Sebastian Mendez^ (Dallas, Texas; 6/0), David Ortíz*^ (McKinney, Texas; 9/2), Alencar Ventura-Junior*^ (Tewksbury, Mass.; 15/1)
PIVOS (4): Raphael Araujo*^ (Bound Brook, N.J.; 17/4), Luiz Morales^ (Mesquite, Texas; 4/5), Zach Reget*^ (Kenosha, Wis.: 15/8), Franck Tayou^ (Las Vegas, Nev.; 5/1)
*Part of 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup roster;
^Part of 2022 UMAG Nations Cup roster
ARGENTINA SCHEDULE
February's camp will see the U.S. Futsal MNT play friendly matches against some of Argentina's top futsal clubs to allow the team competitive preparation for the Concacaf Futsal Championship. The trio of matches kicks off against Racing Club on Feb. 10, followed by a clash with Ferro on Feb. 12 and concludes against San Lorenzo on Feb. 14.
CONCACAF QUALIFYING LOOMS
This month's camp will see the Futsal MNT ramp up preparation for April's Concacaf Futsal Championship in Nicaragua, where it will aim to book its ticket to the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Last month, the USA was drawn into Group C, where it will face Trinidad and Tobago (April 13), Dominican Republic (April 14) and Guatemala (April 15). The top two teams in each group, along with the two best third-place sides, will advance to the tournament's knockout round. From there, the four quarterfinal winners will qualify for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held Sept. 14-Oct. 6 in Uzbekistan.
ROSTER NOTES:
- Fourteen of the 16 players return from January's Futsal MNT training camp in Rome, Ga.
- The two new players this month are 2021 World Cup veteran Zach Reget and Will Eskay, who was part of the 2022 Umag Nations Cup roster and was last called up for the February 2023 training camp.
- Luciano Gonzalez was voted 2023 U.S. Soccer Futsal Player of the Year, finishing ahead of finalists Diego Moretti and Zach Reget.
- Seven players were part of the U.S. squad at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania: Raphael Araujo, Robert Damron, Luciano Gonzalez, Diego Moretti, David Ortíz, Zach Reget and Alencar Ventura-Junior.
- Ten players helped the USA claim the 2022 Umag Nations Cup title in Croatia: Manuel Andrade, Raphael Araujo, Diego Burato, Robert Damron, William Eskay, Luciano Gonzalez, Sebastian Mendez, Luiz Morales, Diego Moretti, David Ortíz, Zach Reget, Franck Tayou and Alencar Ventura-Junior.
- Nine players come from clubs in the Major Arena Soccer League: Sebastian Mendez, Luiz Morales and David Ortíz (Texas Outlaws); Nilton de Andrade and Franck Tayou (Utica City FC); Raphael Araujo and William Eskay (St. Louis Ambush); Marcio Leite (Milwaukee Wave); Zach Reget (Kansas City Comets).
- With 24 goals through 13 matches this season, Luiz Morales leads the MASL in scoring. Zach Reget (21 goals / 13 GP) sits second, followed by Sebastian Mendez (16 goals / 13 GP) who is tied for fourth and Nilton de Andrade (13 goals / 13 GP) who sits sixth.
- Fixo Marcio Leite (14 assists / 9 GP) is second in assists across the MASL, while Franck Tayou (12 assists / 13 GP) and Sebastian Mendez (12 assists / 13 GP) are both tied for fourth.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 1, 2024
- Sockers' Defense Locks Down Outlaws 6-5 - San Diego Sockers
- Wave Set to Celebrate 40 Years Saturday Night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena - Milwaukee Wave
- Comets Reignite Rivalry against Baltimore Blast - Kansas City Comets
- Ponce on Flash Clash: Past Lapses "Can't Happen Anymore" - Empire Strykers
- Nine MASL Players Called up to U.S. Futsal National Team - MASL
- Texas Sweep the Players of the Week - Texas Outlaws
- Week 10 Players of the Week Named - MASL
- St. Louis Ambush Play Twice at Home this Weekend - St. Louis Ambush
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
