We're putting it in your hands. Fans have until Monday to head to youthsoccercentral.com, pick their starting eleven from the nominees, and submit their votes. The format is simple — choose 3 forwards, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 1 goalkeeper. The players with the most votes across each position make the team.
Here's who's in the running.
Goalkeepers
Luna Silva, Alex Bayraktarov, Ryan Miller, Zach Eynon, Connor Dale, Jason Nemo. Six keepers, one spot. Silva and Bayraktarov will be familiar names to anyone who followed the U.S. U-15 Boys National Team camp in Croatia last month. This is a deep nominee pool for what is arguably the most underappreciated position in youth soccer.
Defenders
Twenty nominees for four spots. Matthew Leone, Mason Moskau, Ethan O'Neil, Easton Odom, Reggie Bailey, Caleb Chabala, Ian Miller, Mason Washington, Aidan Carlos, Santiago Alvarez on one side. Alex Sorla, Mikel Akinmboni, Lennox Alvarado, Jeremiah Munoz, Seyi Fakiseyi, Fred Bond, Patrick Arne, Angel Ramos, Kleyton Esteban, Isaiah Bell on the other.
The names span MLS academies, independent clubs, and national team programs. Several of these players appeared on our MLS Next Cup ones-to-watch list. A few were in Salt Lake City two weeks ago. This defender pool is the most competitive position group in the entire vote.
Midfielders
Twenty nominees, three spots. Chris Batiz, Zamir Loyo-Reynaga, Leo Woehl, Cosmi Tristani, Matthew Bursco, Hudson Cicala, Levi Welch, Diego Ros, Chris Gonzalez, Nico Villanueva on one side. Nathan Tchoumba, Robert Turdean, Vincente Garcia, Abdoudlaye Diop, David Llevbare, Chris Morales, Kamil Castillo, Eddie Niles, Noe Santillan, Ezra Vancleave rounding it out.
Welch, Ros, and Tristani all appeared on the U.S. U-15 national team roster that traveled to Croatia. Diop showed out at the MLS Next Cup. This midfield group has national team pedigree sitting right next to under-the-radar club players — exactly how a team of the season ballot should look.
Forwards
The deepest group. Twenty nominees, three spots. Santiago Suarez, Rijkaard Atali, Carson Starrett, Quincy Lamar, Chris Fitanidis, Benjamin Flowers, Daniel Brown, Kenzynton Pierre, Dayson Ocampo, Nosa Osagie on one side. Jamil Danjaji, Landon Lucero, Kane Kraus, Easton Wilson, Ikenna Chidebe, Arman Alagha, Liam Stribling, Davian Kimbrough, Erick Feliciano, Daniel Carmona on the other.
Rijkaard Atali was on our MLS Next Cup quarterfinal ones-to-watch list. Landon Lucero was the centerpiece of Seattle Sounders' run as the only program ranked No. 1 in two age groups. Fitanidis was on both the MLS Next Cup list and the U.S. U-15 national team camp roster. This is a stacked forward group.
How to vote
Head to youthsoccercentral.com, select your eleven from the nominees, and submit before Monday. Next week we drop the 08/09 nominees — a separate ballot that covers a different age group entirely.
The team gets announced when the votes are counted. Your picks decide who makes it.
Full nominee lists and voting at youthsoccercentral.com.
