Four FC Dallas Academy products will compete in the Concacaf U-17 Championship

FRISCO, Texas – The 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship continues with four FC Dallas Academy products representing their countries in Guatemala. FC Dallas Academy prospects Nairobi Vargas (Honduras), Ian Charles (Puerto Rico) and Malachi Molina (Jamaica), along with FC Dallas ECNL player John Sebastian Lutin (Guatemala), compete for their respective countries.

During the opening group stage match against Suriname on Sunday, Nairobi Vargas started and scored in the 40th minute of Honduras’ 6–1 win. Vargas registered two shots and completed 82% of his passes. Nairobi has been a member of the FC Dallas Academy since 2017. Honduras will close out this week’s group stage game, facing Guadeloupe on February 14 and Costa Rica on February 16.

Yesterday Malachi Molina started the qualifiers for Jamaica with a strong 4-2 win over Cuba. Molina started from the right with one shot on target and 89% of his passes. Molina continues a successful few months, breaking away from his first appearance at the MLS NEXT All-Star Game last August. Jamaica will close out this week’s group stage game, facing Guadeloupe on February 14 and Costa Rica on February 16.

Having entered the tournament in the 1/8 finals, Ian Charles is looking to show good results with Puerto Rico. The 16-year-old linebacker moved to the Dallas FC Academy from DC United and spent a year playing for the Under-17s. Charles and Puerto Rico will face the Group G winner on Feb. 19, leaving an opportunity for Dallas to face Jamaica’s Malachi Molina.

FC Dallas ECNL player John Sebastian Lutin was on the bench last Saturday after Guatemala lost 1-0 to Panama. This tournament represents the young goalkeeper’s eighth international call-up. Lutin has been with Dallas since the age of 10 and previously played for the Academy. Guatemala will end the group stage game this week, play Mexico later today on February 13th and close out the group against Curaçao on February 14th.

Read more: FC Dallas Academy coach Alex Aldaz to join U-17 USA MYNT coaching staff at Koncacafe Championship