US Youth Soccer has released the 2026‑27 Olympic Development Program Interregional rosters for the Boys East Region, covering age groups from 2009 to 2014. The announcement marks the next step in a structured talent identification pathway that culminates in national team selection.
These Interregional Events bring together the strongest prospects from the East, Midwest, South and West, offering them a chance to display their abilities before a pool of national scouts. The ultimate goal is to earn a place on the ODP National Teams that represent the United States in international competition.
Coaching leadership across the age groups
Each age cohort is overseen by a dedicated coaching staff. Pat Laughlin serves as the Head Coach for the 2009 group at New England College, while John Fitzgerald leads the 2010 cohort for American SC NPSL HC. Vic Muntean, the Goalkeeper Coach for the 2011 group at Adelphi University, brings specialized expertise between the posts.
Gordon Miller heads the 2012 age group under the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, and Gary Stephenson directs the 2013 older cohort for East Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. For the 2013 younger cohort, Mohamed Elshazly takes the reins at South Shore Select, and John Szaro, the Goalkeeper Coach for the 2014 older group at VYSA ODP, rounds out the technical staff.
The geographic spread of the selected players reflects the regional depth of the talent pool. The 2010 roster includes athletes from Maine, Connecticut and Virginia, while the 2012 group draws from Virginia, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Similar patterns appear across the other age divisions, underscoring the breadth of competition within the East Region.
With the rosters now published, the focus shifts to the upcoming Interregional tournaments where these prospects will test themselves against one another. Scouts will evaluate performance, tactical awareness and physical readiness, all of which feed into the final national team selections.
The process exemplifies a systematic approach to player development, blending high‑level competition with targeted coaching. As the selected athletes prepare for the next phase, the soccer community watches closely, anticipating the emergence of the next generation of U.S. talent.