Three players from the Philadelphia Union Academy were selected on April 10 for the United States Under-16 National Team roster to compete in the 2026 Vertex Cup in Miami.
The selection of goalkeeper Abram Judy, defender Landon Mulvenna, and midfielder Abdoulaye Diop highlights the presence of Philadelphia Union’s youth development system at a major international tournament. The Vertex Cup will take place from April 12 to April 23, with matches against England, Mexico, and Argentina scheduled at FIU Stadium and Beyond Bancard Field. Streaming details are expected to be announced later.
Head coach Paul Simpson chose a total of three players from both Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union for this event. The roster also includes representatives from other Major League Soccer teams such as Atlanta United, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, St. Louis City SC, Austin FC, Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City, LA Galaxy, Nashville SC and Orlando City. Additionally one player each comes from Ajax in the Netherlands and Sacramento Republic in the USL Championship.
The camp is part of ongoing preparations for the 2027 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers which serve as qualification for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. All selected players were born on or after January 1st of 2010.
Philadelphia Union operates as a professional soccer team within Major League Soccer (MLS), focusing on elite competition while fostering fan involvement and youth programs according to its official website. The club achieved recognition by winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2020 for best regular-season performance according to its official website.
Philadelphia Union features a main roster of professional athletes who play home games at Subaru Park—a soccer-specific stadium located on Chester’s waterfront—and utilizes an adjacent training center along with several practice fields according to its official website. The organization provides competitive entertainment through matches and ticket offerings as described by its official site, reinforcing its commitment to community ties.
