The Homegrown defender and the U-19 USMNT can qualify for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2027 Pan American Games during the tournament
CHICAGO (July 16, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC and U.S. Soccer today announced that Chicago Fire FC Homegrown defender Christopher Cupps has been named to the United States U-19 Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship, held from July 24-August 9 in Mexico.
Former Fire defender and current U-19 USMNT head coach Gonzalo Segares will lead the U.S. in a tournament that serves as a qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The team will also form a substantial part of the roster that will play in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a tournament the U.S. has already qualified for as host country.
Cupps, 18, became the 27th Homegrown Player in Club history when he signed a first-team contract on Feb. 18, 2025. The young defender has started three of the six regular season matches in which he has played for the Fire since his Major League Soccer debut against Nashville SC on April 26, 2025. He became the youngest player in Club history to ever start a match for the Chicago Fire in the 0-0 draw against Orlando City SC on May 31, 2025.
The Chicago native was most recently called to his first domestic training camp with the U-19 squad from June 1-9 at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. He has seen action across various age categories of the U.S. Youth National Teams, most notably with the U-17 USMNT roster for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, where he started all four matches of the tournament and wore the captain's armband in the knockout stage.
2026 CONCACAF U-20 MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)
Goalkeepers (3): William Lodmell (Sporting Lisbon/POR; Lisbon, Portugal), Lucas McPartlin (St. Louis City SC; St. Louis, Mo.), Kayne Rizvanovich (Minnesota United FC; Mettawa, III.)
Defenders (7): Chris Applewhite (Nashville SC; Waldorf, Md.), Tristan Brown (Columbus Crew; Novi, Mich.)Â Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, III.), Brandon Dayes (Louisville City FC; Louisville, KY.), Braden Dunham (Furman University; Peachtree City, Ga.), Javaun Mussenden (New England Revolution; Dallas, Ga.), Joshua Torquato (FC Dallas; Aubrey, Texas)
Midfielders (5): Colin Guske (Orlando City SC; Saint Johns, Fla.), Santiago Morales (Inter Miami CF; Weston, Fla.), Cooper Sanchez (Atlanta United FC; Holly Springs, Ga.), Alex Shaw (Inter Miami CF; Pembroke Pines, FL.), Dylan Vanney (LA Galaxy; Redondo Beach, Calif.)
Forwards (6): Nimfasha Berchimas (Charlotte FC; High Point, N.C.), Jaidyn Contreras (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Din Klapija (RB Leipzig; New York City, N.Y.), Xanti Oyharçabal (Athletic Bilbao/ESP; Hendaye, France), Ruben Ramos Jr. (LA Galaxy; La Puente, Calif.), Colton Swan (Charleston Battery; Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Additionally, Noah Santos (Portland Timbers) will join the team as a training player during pre-camp in Salt Lake City.
