A group of teenage soccer players from Delaware are watching the world’s biggest soccer showcase with a mix of awe and ambition. The Sporting Athletic Club 2011 boys team, competing in the Major League Soccer Next league, finished second in the MLS Next Homegrown Mid-Atlantic Division standings and secured a spot in the MLS Next Cup, the tournament that pits the nation’s 32 elite youth sides against one another.
World Cup Fever in Wilmington
Several members of the squad have mapped out a schedule that includes trips to Philadelphia to watch World Cup matches live. The chance to witness the speed and physicality of the game firsthand excites them, and a handful of tickets have already been secured for games in the city.
Edgar Martinez, a New Castle native, says he is especially eager to study central defenders during the tournament. He cites Mark McKenzie, a U.S. team center back who hails from Delaware, as a motivational figure who proves that regional roots can lead to international recognition.
Local Roots, Global Dreams
Coach Callum Pritchett, originally from Birmingham, England, settled in the United States after a collegiate career at Penn State. His transatlantic background adds a unique perspective to the team’s development, and several players share Mexican family connections that keep them focused on El Tricolor’s matches.
Corbin Murilla looks forward to seeing France’s all‑star cast, particularly Kylian Mbappe, while Tyler Anderson, a fan of the English Premier League’s Aston Villa, is thrilled at the prospect of watching Villa’s stars compete on the world stage. Morgan Rogers, another squad member, also anticipates the spectacle.
Aaron Greenburg, who holds tickets to multiple Philadelphia games, sums up the team’s mindset: “We’re not just playing for a trophy; we’re learning from the best players in the world and bringing those lessons back home.”