BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC defender Ramiz Hamouda has received and accepted a call-up to the United States Under-16 Men’s Youth National Team for its upcoming training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the club and U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday.
“It’s always an honor to get called in,” said Hamouda. “What I hope to take away from this training camp is just showing that I can lead, especially after being here in Birmingham and playing with full professionals. So I think going over there I have a chance to show everyone that I’m ready to set a good example.”
Hamouda – who will celebrate his 16th birthday on May 26 – will join the U-16 National Team as it gets set to face the Uruguay U-16’s on May 27 and the Argentina U-16’s on May 30. The 20-player roster selected by Head Coach Gonzalo Segares will transition to become the nation’s U-17 squad later this year as it attempts to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar at the 2025 CONCACAF U-17 Championships.
Hamouda signed his first professional contract with Legion FC in January following a successful stint in the youth academy at Sporting Kansas City, where he was named to the Generation Adidas U-15 Cup Best XI during the group stage of last summer’s tournament.
This call-up marks the young defender’s first at the under-16 level. He has previously accepted two separate invitations from the U.S. U-15’s, first for a friendly camp in April of 2023 and then four months later in August for the CONCACAF Boys’ Under-15 Championships, where Hamouda helped lead the squad to a thrilling 4-2 victory over rival Mexico in the final.
“That was a huge experience for me,” he said of participating in that tournament. “Playing in those CONCACAF matches is a great feeling, especially when you’re playing for a trophy.”
In his first season with Legion FC, Hamouda has made three substitute appearances thus far, including both of the club’s matches in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
U.S. U-16 MYNT ROSTER – MAY TRAINING CAMP – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
GOALKEEPERS: Jack Kortkamp (Sporting Kansas City; Olathe, Kan.), Owen Pratt (LA Galaxy; San Clemente, Calif.)
DEFENDERS: Christopher Cupps (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Pedro Guimaraes (LAFC; Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Ramiz Hamouda (Birmingham Legion FC; Lincoln, Neb.), Ian James (Sporting Kansas City; St. Paul, Minn.), Adrian Sanders (LAFC; Claremont, Calif.), Oliver Tan (San Jose Earthquakes; Piedmont, Calif.), Gio Villa (Real Salt Lake; Chicago, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS: Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC; Greenwich, Conn.), Evan Lim (New York City FC; Cedar Grove, N.J.), Jack Mize (Borussia Dortmund/GER; New York City, N.Y.), Luca Moisa (Real Salt Lake; Las Vegas, Nev.)
FORWARDS: Chase Adams (Columbus Crew; Naperville, Ill.), Mathis Albert (LA Galaxy; El Segundo, Calif.), Vitaliy Hlyut (Chicago Fire FC; Roselle, Ill.), Jamir Johnson (Philadelphia Union; Huntsville, Ala.), Omar Marquez (Real Salt Lake; Woodland, Calif.), Tanner Rosborough (New York Red Bulls; McDonald, Pa.)
ADDITIONAL NOTES
– In total, 13 clubs are represented on the roster. In addition to the 11 MLS clubs, defender Ramiz Hamouda plays for USL Championship club Birmingham Legion FC and midfielder Jack Mize is at German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund.
– This marks the third training camp of the one-year U-16 MYNT cycle after domestic gatherings last November in Carson, Calif. and April in West Palm Beach, Fla. Five players have been a part of all three gatherings: Pedro Guimaraes, Jamir Johnson, Owen Pratt, Tanner Rosborough and Gio Villa.
– The 10 players who helped the U.S. win its first Concacaf Boys’ U-15 Championship last summer are Chase Adams, Guimaraes, Ramiz Hamouda, Johnson, Omar Marquez, Luca Moisa, Pratt, Rosborough, Adrian Sanders and Villa.
