Chicago Fire defender Christopher Cupps has been called up to represent the United States at the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, U.S. Soccer announced today. The tournament will be held in Mexico, kicking off next week.
Cupps, who is just 18, is arguably the most established player in the team. Several of the bigger names in the age group – like Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Cavan Sullivan, Mathis Albert, or Jude Terry – were understandably not released for the tournament. Given their prominent roles for their club teams, in MLS and otherwise, the CONCACAF championship would keep them out of a few matches.
Though he has not featured in MLS much so far, Cupps' performances for Chicago Fire II in MLS Next Pro make him standout among young American defenders. He has already logged 1,260 minutes this season, captained the second team several times, and was the man of the match in last week's 3-0 win over New York Red Bulls II.
Given his prominent reputation in U.S. youth circles and leadership qualities, Cupps is a possible captain for the team, even if he's on the younger half of the target birth year range (2007 t0 2008). Not to read too much into minor details, but the Lincoln Park native was also chosen as the sole player featured by U.S. Soccer on the roster reveal graphic.
2026 marks the third consecutive edition of this tournament in which a Fire player has taken part for the U.S. team. In 2022, Chris Brady used the tournament as his breakout, at a time when Gaga Slonina was untouchable as the Fire's #1 goalkeeper. In 2024, Sergio Oregel used a surprise call-up to the tournament as a springboard to break into the Fire first team at the start of 2025.
Cupps, who has received scattered minutes in 2025 and 2026 since signing a homegrown contract at the start of last season, will also hope that a strong performance in Mexico can encourage Gregg Berhalter to hand him a bigger role. As one of the most promising American center back prospects in recent memory, it is something that he's certainly capable of, and coming back with a winner's medal will certainly help.
Other familiar names on this team include 2008-born Nimfasha Berchimas, an ever-present at practically every U.S. youth tournament in the last three-and-a-half years (including the last U-20 Championship), and Santi Morales, who has received spot minutes for Inter Miami over the last few seasons. An intriguing name is that of Xantiago Oyharçabal, a Basque winger at Athletic Club who is eligible for France, Spain, Colombia, and the United States. RB Leipzig academy forward Dino Klapija also got his first call-up in two years. Meanwhile, Chicago native and former FC United goalkeeper Kayne Rizvanovich was also called up.
The U.S. will face Cuba, El Salvador, and Haïti in the group stage, with all matches played in Puebla. The semifinals and final will be held at Estadio Azteca, culminating on August 9th.
