There are countless reasons to be excited about the future of U.S. Soccer at the moment. The U.S. Men's National Team recently advanced to the Concacaf Nations League semifinals as they surge towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup (on home soil) under the guidance of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The U.S. Women's National Team, led by Ballon d'Or winning coach Emma Hayes and a crop of exciting young talent, claimed Olympic gold this past summer. And at the youth levels, prospects like 17-year-old New England Revolution defender/winger Peyton Miller continue to make waves.
Miller spent the past 10 days with the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team in Marbella, Spain, where the young Americans won a pair of friendlies against Korea Republic and France as they continue to gear up for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup next September. Miller, who typically features in a more attack-minded role in the U.S. setup, appeared in both games, coming off the bench to score in a 3-0 win over Korea Republic before making the starting XI for a 2-1 win over powerhouse France.
Miller, who also attended an Under-20 training camp in Chile last month, was one of just two players born in 2007 included on head coach Marko Mitrovic's training camp roster.
Esmir Bajraktarević, another teenage Homegrown signing, made two more substitute appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina's senior squad in UEFA Nations League action. The 19-year-old came off the bench in the 62nd minute of a 7-0 loss to Germany, and in the 63rd minute of a memorable 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, as Bosnia equalized shortly after Bajraktarević entered. Despite picking up a point in that final match, Bosnia and Herzegovina finished at the bottom of Group A3.
Summer signing Alhassan Yusuf was also in action with the Nigeria National Team, as the Super Eagles booked their spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations by finishing atop Group D despite a difficult window. Yusuf was an unused substitute in Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Benin, before starting and playing the opening 45 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Rwanda. The 24-year-old has now amassed seven total appearances with Nigeria.
