CHICAGO (Sept. 23, 2026) – Chicago Fire FC and U.S. Soccer announced that Chicago Fire Academy winger Damyan Villanueva was called up to the U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team for an international training camp held from Sept. 24-Oct. 6 in Marbella, Spain.
The camp will be the first in the U-19 category for coach Rob Valentino, who previously coached the U.S. U-20 MNT. He will lead Villanueva and 19 other players in three matches against European competition, starting with Wales on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at the Banús Football Center. The U-19 MNT will then face England at the Marbella Football Center on Friday, Oct. 2 before returning to the first venue for one final tie against Norway on Monday, Oct. 5.
This will be the first call-up to a U.S. Youth National Team side for Villanueva, who had a breakout 2026 with Chicago Fire FC II after leading the U-18 Academy side in goals during the 2025-26 MLS NEXT season. The 18-year-old led the youngest roster of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season with 13 goal contributions across 27 matches, including a team-leading seven assists. He was recognized as the MLS NEXT Rising Star in back-to-back weeks after tallying his first two goals in the league on Matchweek 17, then scoring and assisting on Matchweek 18.
