SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris and Earthquakes II Head Coach Dan DeGeer have been called up to the United States Under-23 Men’s National Team for training camp in San Pedro de Pinatar, Spain, from Nov. 9-17, which includes friendlies at the Pinatar Arena against Scotland on Sunday, Nov. 15 (6 a.m. PT) and Ukraine on Tuesday, Nov. 17 (5 a.m. PT).
The camp is Head Coach Steve Cherundolo’s first since he was named to the role in June, as the U.S. U-23 MNT begins building its player pool ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Team USA has already qualified by virtue of being the host nation.
Tsakiris has been called to the playing roster for this camp, while DeGeer will serve as an assistant coach on Cherundolo’s staff for this camp as well as the entire cycle through the Olympics.
“It’s always an honor to be called up by U.S. Soccer and represent my country,” said Tsakiris. “I’m looking forward to camp and the upcoming friendlies.”
The 21-year-old Tsakiris has enjoyed a breakthrough 2026 in his first campaign as a starter, amassing a team-leading 12 assists and scoring three goals while leading San Jose to its first Audi MLS Cup Playoff berth since 2023 and first home postseason game in PayPal Park history. The two-way playmaker also made his debut in the MLS 22 Under 22 list this year, coming in at No. 8 in the rankings. Tsakiris graduated from the Quakes Academy in 2022 to sign a contract as a Homegrown Player and has tallied 83 career appearances (52 starts) in MLS play.
A native of Saratoga, California, Tsakiris has been a longtime standout at youth international level for the Stars and Stripes, most recently at the FIFA U-20 World Cup where he helped lead the USA to the quarterfinals. In 2024, he was nominated for Young Male Player of the Year by U.S. Soccer after earning Golden Ball honors as the best player at the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship. At the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship, Tsakiris scored three goals during the tournament to help the USA qualify for the subsequent 2023 U-20 World Cup in Argentina where they would finish in the quarterfinals.
DeGeer recently completed his fifth season in charge of Quakes II and steered them to an unprecedented fourth consecutive MLS NEXT Pro Playoff berth, defeating the Tacoma Defiance in the Play-In Round before falling on the road late in the Western Conference Quarterfinals to Austin FC II.
“It's an incredible honor to represent my country and to join the U.S. U-23 Olympic Team staff,” said DeGeer. “I'm grateful to U.S. Soccer for the opportunity, and to the San Jose Earthquakes for their support. With a home Olympics on the horizon, I can't wait to help this talented generation of players chase something special.”
DeGeer, who was a finalist for the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2025 after leading the team to their second consecutive Pacific Division crown, just completed his 10th season with the club. He originally joined San Jose in 2017 as the Quakes Academy U-13 head coach, eventually leading each academy age group from U-13 to U-17 before taking the helm of the Earthquakes’ MLS NEXT Pro squad in 2022. A staggering 19 players on the Quakes’ current First Team, including Tsakiris, have played minutes for DeGeer on Quakes II.
The Earthquakes have clinched their spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Playoffs but play their final MLS regular-season game Saturday, Nov. 7—a road clash with Minnesota United FC. Kickoff from Allianz Field is slated for 4 p.m. PT, with the match to be broadcast on Apple TV (English/Spanish), as well as via local radio on KSFO 810 AM (English) and La Kaliente 1370 AM (Spanish). The top-four finishers in each conference will enjoy home-field advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 Series and will host both Game One and Game Three (if necessary). San Jose is currently third in the West and would clinch a top-four spot Saturday with a win, draw or loss by seven goals or fewer.
Tickets for all possible Earthquakes Round One home games are on sale now HERE. The best way to guarantee access and preferred pricing for the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs is by purchasing 2027-28 Season Tickets.
U.S. U-23 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN)
Goalkeepers (3): Julian Eyestone (Rotherham United/ENG; Dallas, Texas), Duran Ferree (San Diego FC; San Diego, Calif.), Andrew Rick (Philadelphia Union; Berwyn, Pa.)
Defenders (8): Luca Bombino (Stoke City/ENG; Saugus, Calif.), Robert Deziel Jr. (Legia Warszawa/POL; West Palm Beach, Fla.), Tate Johnson (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; Tampa, Fla.), Ethan Kohler (New England Revolution; Campbell, Calif.), Drew Murray (WSG Tirol/AUT; San Jose, Calif.), Nolan Norris (FC Dallas; Fort Worth, Texas), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; Philadelphia, Pa.), Joshua Wynder (New England Revolution; Louisville, Ky.)
Midfielders (6): Snyder Brunell (Seattle Sounders FC; Kirkland, Wash.), Matthew Corcoran (Nashville SC; Dallas, Texas), Benjamin Cremaschi (Parma Calcio 1913/ITA; Key Biscayne, Fla.), Taha Habroune (Columbus Crew; Columbus, Ohio), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; Chicago, Ill.), Niko Tsakiris (San Jose Earthquakes; Saratoga, Calif.)
Forwards (6): Cole Campbell (SV 07 Elversberg/GER; Peachtree City, Ga.), Damion Downs (St. Louis City SC; Schwebenried, Germany), Sebastian Gomez (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Andre Gitau (1FSV Mainz 05/GER; Richmond, Texas), Marvin Dills (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), David Vazquez (San Diego FC; Los Angeles, Calif.)
This camp and international matches are part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
