Opponents announced for 2026 id2 National Selection teams in England

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Aug. 11, 2026) – The 2026 id2 National Selection boys and girls teams traveling to England later this week are preparing to face some of the country’s best academies. The 2026 id2 National Selection International Tour spans Aug. 13-23, starting in Atlanta, where the teams will acclimate at U.S. Soccer’s new National Training Center before traveling to England for international competition and cultural immersion.

The id2 boys team will play five games, highlighted by its participation in the acclaimed Merseyside Cup. Its confirmed opponents on Aug. 18 are Newcastle United FC, Atlanta United FC and Aston Villa FC. Its fourth and final game of the tournament is TBD the following day. These games are held as two 20-minute halves. The boys will conclude their international slate against Chelsea FC Academy in a friendly hosted at Chelsea FC. Their trip in country begins in Liverpool and concludes in London.

The id2 girls team will play three friendlies in London, starting against Chelsea FC Academy, then Tottenham Academy and then London City Lionesses. The delegation will be based in London for the duration. Both boys and girls teams will attend professional matches, train at various facilities and participate in sightseeing excursions that are curated to create a multi-faceted experience that benefits the players on and off the field.

The id2 National Selection International Tour is part of a multi-stage progression for targeted players, of which the outgoing year’s targeted age group was 2012-born athletes. Dating back to summer 2025, over 12,000 players were scouted by US Club Soccer’s scouting network. This included national and regional events, as well as localized scouting in club environments, where players are most comfortable. As players were monitored, US Club Soccer hosted two national camps in February and April/May. In February, at the id2 National Training Camp, more than 200 players participated in a week-long camp in Chula Vista, California. Then, the player pool narrowed further to about 70 players, who competed at the id2 National Selection Camp in Fairfax, Virginia. Now, the id2 National Selection International Tour is the ultimate reward for players in this process, and 18 girls and 18 boys are traveling to England later this week. 

US Club Soccer is growing its scouting network to be the biggest in the country with currently more than 90 scouts contributing. Local and regional scouting over the past year has included: Player Development Programs (PDP); events within the NPL, ECNL Regional League and ECNL; showcases; and more. The 2026 cohort is led by id2 head coaches Darel Russell (boys) and Hue Menzies (girls) in close collaboration with US Club Soccer technical director Ross Paule.  

The id2 Program is a leader in player identification and development, as it provides opportunities for elite athletes to be identified, developed and scouted for inclusion in U.S. Soccer’s youth national team programming. The id2 Program is an Olympic Development Program approved by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation. There is no cost for players to participate or be scouted, and all meals, lodging and gear are provided by US Club Soccer. For the id2 National Selection International Tour, all travel expenses are also provided. This approach to eliminating barriers to entry helps ensure the best players are able to participate. The id2 Program was created in 2004, and today, has grown to be recognized as reserve teams for USYNT. Id2 alumni include Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Brendan Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Diego Luna, Lindsey Heaps, Trinity Rodman and Mallory Swanson. 


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