Columbus Crew Academy’s Taha Habroune and Kelvin Jones to represent United States in 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship 

COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew today announced that Crew Academy Under-17 midfielder Taha Habroune has been selected by United States U-17 Men’s Youth National Team head coach Gonzalo Segares for the 20-player roster that will represent the USA at the 2023 Concacaf Under-17 Championship, set for Feb. 11-26 in Guatemala. Also representing the Crew in the tournament is Academy Director Kelvin Jones, who has been selected to serve as an assistant coach on Segares’ staff.

A Columbus native, Habroune was most recently called-up for a U.S. U-17 training camp in early January. The 16-year-old joined the Crew Academy in 2019 and has spent time training with the Crew First Team during the current preseason campaign, including joining the Black & Gold on the team’s first preseason trip to Port St. Lucie, Fla., from Jan. 16-28.

Jones joined the Crew Academy in 2017 as the U-12 coach then progressed to the U-15 and U-19 head coach positions prior to being named Academy Director in 2020. Jones holds numerous coaching certifications including a U.S. Soccer Federation A License, a NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, a U.S. Soccer Federation National Youth License and most recently completed the Elite Formation Coaching License course, which is operated as a partnership between Major League Soccer and the French Football Federation.

The USA will aim to qualify for a record 18th FIFA U-17 World Cup as four teams will book tickets to the 2023 tournament, set for this fall in Peru. The U.S. was drawn into Group F and kicks off the competition against Barbados on Saturday, Feb. 11, takes on Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, Feb. 13, and closes the group stage against regional rival Canada on Wednesday, Feb. 15. All three of the USA’s group stage matches are set for 8 p.m. ET.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are age-eligible for the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.

The Concacaf U-17 Championship features 20 teams – 16 divided into four groups of four, and four who have already advanced to the Round of 16 via pre-tournament qualifying. The U.S. is looking to win its fourth Concacaf title at this age level after taking home its last U-17 championship in 2011.