Ricardo Pepi Called into United States U-17 National Team for 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup

FC Dallas players have now earned 28 UnitedHealthcare International Call-ups this season

Frisco, Texas (October 10) – FC Dallas Homegrown Ricardo Pepi has been called up by head coach ­­­­­­­Raphael Wicky to represent the United States U-17 Men’s National Team in the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup running from October 26 to November 17 in Brazil. FC Dallas Academy player Nicolas Carrera will also join Ricardo Pepi and the U.S. U-17 team. 

Pepi, 16, has five goals in 15 appearances for the U-17 squad, last appearing in the 4 Nations Tournament in Assen, Netherlands in September. Pepi signed as the league-leading 26th Homegrown in FC Dallas history on June 21 and was the first to utilize the new USL League One development pathway when he signed with North Texas Soccer Club on December 6, 2018. Pepi finished as USL League One’s fifth-leading scorer with nine goals in 12 appearances and helped North Texas SC reach the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the league’s inaugural season.

Carrera, 17, earns his third call-up to the U.S. U-17 squad after first joining the team in July. He has scored five goals in 38 appearances so far with the FC Dallas Academy and made his professional debut for North Texas SC this season against Toronto FC II on June 12.

The U-17 National Team was drawn into Group D for the 18th edition of the tournament and will play matches against Senegal, Japan and Netherlands in the group stage.

U-17 World Cup Group Stage Match Schedule