While most kids under the age of 18 are thinking about graduating high school, the two youngest USMNT newcomers Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah are pondering a different milestone - making their international debut for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Their first opportunity to walk across that stage comes against Wales in Swansea on Thursday at 2:45 p.m. ET (FS1, UniMás & TUDN), and then four days later when the USA faces Panama in Wiener Neustadt, Austria in the second match of the November FIFA window on Nov. 16 (2:45 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMás & TUDN).
They hope to follow in the footsteps of players who worn the Red, White and Blue prior to their 18th birthday, and reminder – Gio turns 18 the day after the match in Wales…
With that, here are the 11 known players who have played for the USMNT before adulthood:
Poli Garcia, 1975
Poli Garcia made his international debut at 17, 225 days, two years before turning pro. Garcia, born in San Diego, lived most of his early years in Mexico before his family returned to California when he was 15. He played the full 90 minutes in a 6-0 friendly loss to Argentina in Mexico City on Aug. 21, 1975. Four days later in the same city, he came on as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat to Mexico.
He never played for the USMNT again, but forged a 13-year professional career, performing for the California Sunshine (American Soccer League) while earning Player of the Year honors in 1978, Los Angeles Aztecs and Jacksonville Tea Men (both North American Soccer League) and Cleveland Force, LA Lazers, St. Louis Steamers, San Diego Sockers (all Major Indoor Soccer League) before retiring in 1989.
Steve Snow, 1988
While attending Hoffman Estates High School in suburban Chicago, forward Steve Snow (17 years, 108 days) represented his country in a 1-0 friendly win against Costa Rica in San Antonio, Texas on June 14, 1988.
He replaced Charlie Raphael at halftime, the first of two senior international appearances. During his high school career, Snow scored in 49 consecutive matches, finishing with 92 goals. He played only one season for Indiana University (1989), finishing as the NCAA Division I postseason leading scorer as the Hoosiers were eliminated by Santa Clara in the semifinals.
Snow helped the USA qualify for the 1992 Olympics, scoring 11 times in nine matches before playing twice in the Barcelona Games. He decided to pursue a professional career in Belgium, first with Standard Liege, then FC Boom from 1990-93. Snow returned to the states to play for the Chicago Power (National Professional Soccer League) before retiring in 1995 due to recurring knee injuries.
Mark Jonas, 1991
Mark Jonas represented the USA for his first and only time in a 1-0 friendly victory against Jamaica in High Point, N.C. on Sept. 14, 1991, while he was attending Bowie High School in Bowie, Md. Jonas, who was 16 years, 332 days at the time, was one of three players under the age of 18 who made their international debuts in that game, joining Mike Sliviniski and Nelson Vargas. It was the only time three players under 18 made USMNT appearances in the same match. The midfielder replaced goal-scorer Sadri Gjonbalaj at halftime.
While his National Team career was short, Jonas played a dozen years professionally, featuring for the Richmond Kickers, Carolina Dynamo, Virginia Beach Mariners and Carolina RailHawks (all United Soccer League), Cleveland Crunch (National Professional Soccer League) and Philadelphia KIXX (Major Indoor Soccer League).
Mike Slivinski, 1991
As one of three under 18 players who played in the 1-0 win against Jamaica in High Point on Sept. 14, 1991, N.C., Mike Sliviniski started the game before he was replaced at halftime by Nelson Vargas, becoming the youngest player at the time to debut for the USMNT at 16 years, 318 days. Two other players under the age of18 players also played that day - Mark Jonas and Vargas, the only time it has been accomplished. All three players had just come off representing the United States at the 1991 U-17 World Cup in Italy the month before.
After a standout career at Scott Gallagher SC in St. Louis, the midfielder played at the University of Virginia under former U.S. head coach Bruce Arena for most of his college career, joining the coach at D.C. United where he played three seasons. He also performed for MLS Pro-40, Hampton Road Mariners, Northern Virginia Royals (all United Soccer League), Maryland Mania and Milwaukee Rampage (both A-League) and San Diego Flash (National Premier Soccer League) before retiring in 2001.
Nelson Vargas, 1991
Before playing five seasons in Major League Soccer with the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion from 1996-2000, Nelson Vargas debuted with the USMNT in the 1-0 friendly win against Jamaica on Sept. 14, 1991. Vargas (17 years, 49 days) was one of three members of the U.S. team to play at the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Italy the month prior and along with Jonas and Slivinski, joined the senior side for the match in North Carolina, replacing the former at halftime.
Returning to the side at the end of 1994, Vargas played a total of four times for the senior team. He also represented the country at the 1993 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
An interesting note: Vargas played the role of USMNT legend John "Clarkie" Souza in the movie “The Game of Their Lives,” which chronicled the USA's historic 1-0 upset of England at the 1950 World Cup.
Maurice Ligeon, 1994
Maurice Ligeon (17 years, 49 days) made his first and only appearance for the USA in a 2-1 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 19, 1994, replacing Lawrence Lozzano in the 72nd minute. The match was also the debut for current USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter.
The midfielder went on to play for Club Brugge (Belgium), SC Telstar, SV Huizen and KSJB (all the Netherlands) in a pro career that spanned 15 years from 1993 to 2007.
Ligeon was head coach at Almere FC from 2012 to 2017 while taking up similar duties with Unique Lelystad from 2018-19. Both clubs are based in the Netherlands.
Bobby Convey, 2000
