Today, Republic FC announced that Academy forward Chance Cowell has been called up to the Mexico U-15 Youth National team. Cowell will attend the team’s training camp in Mexico City from April 16-21, and join the squad for matches from April 22 to May 2 in Gradisca, Italy. This is his fourth call up to Mexico’s youth program and his second selection to a Youth National Team this year.
“Chance has worked hard all season and is well deserving of this opportunity to represent Mexico on the national stage,” said Republic FC Academy Director Eder Quintanilla. “To be selected to play on the national team stage twice in one year is a tremendous accomplishment.”
A native of Ceres, California, the forward joined Republic FC’s academy in 2021 and has appeared for Sacramento’s U-14, U-15, and U-17 teams. In his first season in the club’s youth system, he helped the U-15 squad reach the MLS NEXT Cup semifinals, scoring 14 goals. This season, Cowell has appeared 21 times for Sacramento’s U-15 and U-17 squads, scoring 17 times in just over 1,200 minutes logged.
Cowell received two selections to Mexico’s U-15 squad in 2022, first in April and again in August. This past February, he was called up to the United States U-15 National Team for training camp and friendly matches in Carson, California. In March, he was participated in the U.S. Youth National Team Regional ID Center in Pleasanton, CA.
The club’s youth squads have enjoyed a strong 2022-23 season, with three of four squads in second place in their regional divisions and pushing for the top spot. Earlier this month, three academy players – forward Ethan Kelly, midfielder Blake Willey, and defender Ermias Yohannes – were signed by the club to USL Academy Contracts, which allow Academy players to train and compete with the first team while maintaining their amateur status. Yohannes and Kelly each made their first-team debuts in the club’s second round U.S. Open Cup match on April 5.
Republic FC’s Academy offers the region’s only youth-to-pro pathway, where players can rise through the ranks and earn opportunities with the club’s professional squad. The club’s youth teams compete at the highest level of youth soccer in North America, MLS NEXT, providing access to the top player development platform in the United States and Canada. Since the academy’s inception in 2015, 24 players from the club’s youth system have earned call-ups to youth national teams, and 28 players have signed a pro contract or earned a first team opportunity on a on USL Academy contract.
