SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that midfielder Kaedren Spivey (United States) and goalkeeper Marcelo “Chelo” Avalos (México) have been named to their respective rosters for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will take place in Qatar from Nov. 19 – Dec. 13.
The U.S. will compete in Group J and will play Montenegro on Saturday, Nov. 21 (6:30 a.m. PT), Chile on Tuesday, Nov. 24 (6:30 a.m. PT) and Algeria on Friday, Nov. 27 (7 a.m. PT) in the Group Stage. Meanwhile, México has been placed in Group K and will face Romania on Saturday, Nov. 21 (4:30 a.m.), Cameroon on (Tuesday, Nov. 24; 2:30 a.m.) and Venezuela on Friday, Nov. 27 (5 a.m.). All the aforementioned matches will be played in the Aspire Zone in Doha/Al Rayyan, with the final to take place at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.
Every United States Group Stage match and select matches of the FIFA U-17 World Cup will air on FS2 (Fox Sports 2), FOX Deportes and FOX Soccer Plus throughout the tournament.
Spivey, 17, signed a contract in January 2025 as a Homegrown Player with the Earthquakes’ Major League Soccer First Team through 2028 with a club option for 2029. On March 14, 2025, the San Jose native made his professional debut with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro team against the Tacoma Defiance. He has enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 campaign for Earthquakes II, making 28 appearances (27 starts), scoring four goals and recording three assists including his first two postseason games. Last year, the midfielder represented the Quakes Academy in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game in Austin, Texas. In 2024, the San Jose native was named the MLS NEXT Under-15 Most Valuable Player presented by adidas after a dominant campaign, scoring 11 goals in 21 games.
“We're incredibly proud of Kaedren. He's taken real strides this year on both sides of the ball, in the quality he brings in possession and in his pressing behaviors,” said Quakes II Head Coach Dan DeGeer. “It's been a great collaboration with U.S. U-17 Men's National Team Head coach Alex Aldaz, working together on a shared development plan to make sure Kaedren arrives ready for this moment. We can't wait to watch him thrive at the World Cup."
At international level, Spivey has amassed five total appearances between the U-16 and U-17 levels, with this call-up by Aldaz to the U-17 World Cup the most important one yet. The U-17 MNT squad will begin pre-camp in Salwa, Qatar, on Monday, Nov. 9, before transitioning to Doha on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
“This is a great honor to be able to represent my club and my country in the FIFA U-17 World Cup,” said Spivey. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to compete in Qatar, and I’m grateful for everyone’s support.”
Avalos, 16, made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with Quakes II earlier this season at age 16, playing four minutes against Sporting Kansas City II on July 7. Born and raised in Salinas, California, he began attending Earthquakes games as an infant. Avalos first started playing for Quakes Academy in 2017 at eight years old when his older brother Lorenzo was invited to join the club’s youth setup. A precocious prospect, Avalos played his first game with the Quakes’ Under-15 team at 12 years old.
“Marcelo Avalos has consistently competed at a high level in our academy, establishing himself as a dominant goalkeeper in his age group while earning opportunities to train with our MLS NEXT Pro team,” said Quakes Academy Director Luchi Gonzalez. “His international experience with México’s Youth National Team, including a call-up to the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup, has been another important step in his development. He also comes from a very supportive family that has played an important role in his journey.”
At international level, Avalos possesses three passports and is eligible to play for the United States, México and Iceland. The young shot-stopper has been called up to camps by the USA and México but has solely represented the latter since 2025, with the U-17 World Cup and a call-up from Head Coach Jurgen Castañeda his next adventure.
“It’s exciting, especially to get the opportunity to play at this stage,” said Avalos. “I’m hoping we can make it far in the World Cup, and it should be a great experience.”
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2009, are age-eligible for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
U.S. U-17 FIFA WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)
Goalkeepers (3): James Donaldson* (Atlanta United FC; Woodstock, Ga.), Philipp Eckle (FC Augsburg/GER; Augsburg, Germany), Toby Szewczyk (Red Bull New York; Morristown, N.J.)
Defenders (6): Miles Aalbersberg (Ajax/NED; Amsterdam, Netherlands), Eddie Chadwick* (Queens Park Rangers/ENG; Los Angeles, Calif.), Gianmarco Di Noto (Columbus Crew; Rochester Hills, Mich.), Prince Forfor* (Columbus Crew; Des Moines, Iowa), Astin Mbaye* (AC Milan/ITA; Jersey City, N.J.), Joshua Wilbrenninck-van Cuilenborg (Feyenoord/NED; Philadelphia, Pa.)
Midfielders (6): Deven Cadigan (Red Bull New York; Cedar Grove, N.J.), Vinny Garcia* (LA Galaxy; West Covina, Calif.), Peter Molinari* (New York City FC; Bayside, N.Y.), Judah Siqueira (New England Revolution; Easton, Mass.), Kaedren Spivey* (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Ignacio Suarez-Couri (Atlanta United FC; Johns Creek, Ga.)
Forwards (6): Kashan Hines (Sporting Kansas City; Chambersburg, Pa.), Malik Jakupovic* (Philadelphia Union; Sterling Heights, Mich.), Will Ostrander* (PSV/NED; Mill Valley, Calif.), Robert Turdean (Chicago Fire FC; Niles, Ill.), Makai Wells (New England Revolution; Washington), Edward Wumah (Girona/ESP; Bayonne, N.J.)
*Part of the 2026 World Cup Qualifying roster
MEXICO U-17 FIFA WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)
Goalkeepers (3): Marcelo Avalos (San José Earthquakes), José Corona (Club Tijuana), Johan Cuenca (Tigres UANL)
Defenders (6): André Godínez (Chivas Guadalajara), Gerson Gutiérrez (Chivas Guadalajara), Alan Hernández (Club León), Dylan Martínez (Club Necaxa), Adonaí Valdez (Club América), Álvaro Velázquez (CF Monterrey)
Midfielders (8): Santiago Cisneros (Club León), Jonathan de la Fuente (Colorado Rapids), Miguel de Jesús Rivera (Club América), Edy Lugo (CF Monterrey), Juan Carlos Martínez Jr. (Querétaro), Jesús Orduño (Club Tijuana), Ángel Reyes (Atlético San Luis), Saulo Tejeda (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards (4): Matthew Arana (Houston Dynamo FC), Da’vian Kimbrough (FC Dallas), Fernando Ruiz (Toluca FC) Adán Sánchez (CF Monterrey)
