Gian Pablo Polito Copy URL Share on Facebook Share on X Four Inter Miami CF Academy products represented their respective national teams at the 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship. First Team players Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw, along with Academy players Cai McLean and Kendry Villafuerte, competed for the regional title and qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. Morales and Shaw helped the United States U-20 side reach the tournament final and secure a second-place finish, earning qualification to the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. Here’s a closer look at the Inter Miami CF Academy products who represented their countries throughout the tournament: Santiago Morales and Alexander Shaw – United States U-20 Morales and Shaw helped the United States enjoy a perfect group stage, recording three victories without conceding a goal against Haiti, El Salvador, and Cuba to finish atop Group A. Morales found the back of the net in the United States’ 3-0 victory over Haiti, while Shaw scored in the team’s 5-0 win over Cuba. In the knockout stage, the United States defeated Guatemala 3-1 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals and secure a berth in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. The U.S. continued its run with a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in the semifinals to book its place in the championship match. USA. MEXICO. AT THE AZTECA. ANOTHER TITLE ON THE LINE. The @Concacaf U-20 Championship final tonight on FS2! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XCYnP68dNQ — U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) August 9, 2026 In the final, the United States faced Mexico and ultimately fell 2-0, finishing as tournament runners-up. Cai McLean – Jamaica U-20 Academy defender Cai McLean represented Jamaica in Group C. The Reggae Boyz opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Honduras before recording consecutive 2-2 draws against Panama and Canada to finish second in the group. Jamaica advanced to the quarterfinals, where it faced Canada for a second consecutive match. Canada ultimately secured a 3-1 victory after extra time to end Jamaica’s tournament run. McLean remained an unused substitute in Jamaica’s opening two group-stage matches before featuring as a second-half substitute against Canada and later entering during extra time in the quarterfinal matchup. Kendry Villafuerte – Honduras U-20 Academy defender Kendry Villafuerte represented Honduras in Group C and started all three of the team’s group-stage matches. Honduras opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Jamaica before drawing Canada 1-1 and falling 4-0 to Panama in its final group-stage match, concluding its participation in the competition. In the final, the United States faced Mexico and ultimately fell 2-0, finishing as tournament runners-up. Cai McLean – Jamaica U-20 Academy defender Cai McLean represented Jamaica in Group C. The Reggae Boyz opened the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Honduras before recording consecutive 2-2 draws against Panama and Canada to finish second in the group. Jamaica advanced to the quarterfinals, where it faced Canada for a second consecutive match. Canada ultimately secured a 3-1 victory after extra time to end Jamaica’s tournament run. McLean remained an unused substitute in Jamaica’s opening two group-stage matches before featuring as a second-half substitute against Canada and later entering during extra time in the quarterfinal matchup. Kendry Villafuerte – Honduras U-20 Academy defender Kendry Villafuerte represented Honduras in Group C and started all three of the team’s group-stage matches. Honduras opened the tournament with a 2-1 defeat to Jamaica before drawing Canada 1-1 and falling 4-0 to Panama in its final group-stage match, concluding its participation in the competition. 📸 Unidos por un mismo objetivo. 🇭🇳 #ClasificatorioConcacafU20 #UnNuevoCamino #UnaNuevaIlusión pic.twitter.com/5UpODoodkh — Federación de Fútbol de Honduras (FFH) (@FFH_Honduras) July 30, 2026 Gian Pablo Polito Academy Academy News Alexander Shaw Santiago Morales Copy URL Share on Facebook Share on X
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: www.intermiamicf.com