Johns Creek native Ignacio Suarez-Couri will represent the United States at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team head coach Alex Aldaz named the 17-year-old Atlanta United midfielder to his 21-player roster on Friday, Nov. 6. Suarez-Couri is one of two Atlanta United players on the squad, joining goalkeeper James Donaldson of Woodstock, Ga.
The team begins pre-camp in Salwa, Qatar, on Monday, Nov. 9, before moving to Doha on Nov. 18.
Born in Johns Creek on April 3, 2009, Suarez-Couri has been developing in the Atlanta United Academy since 2020. He signed with ATL UTD 2 in April 2025 and made his U.S. U-17 international debut on June 7.
He has already set records at the club level. On Aug. 27, 2025, Suarez-Couri scored his first professional goal in a 4-1 win over Inter Miami CF II, becoming the youngest ATL UTD 2 player to do so at 16 years and 146 days, according to Atlanta United. As of July 22, he had one goal and four assists in 14 appearances for ATL UTD 2 in 2026, making him the youngest ATL UTD 2 player to reach five goal contributions in a season in the MLS NEXT Pro era.
Atlanta United also signed Suarez-Couri to a short-term agreement with the first team on July 22 for matches against Charlotte FC and the New England Revolution.
ATL UTD 2 posted on X that both Donaldson and Suarez-Couri had been named to the World Cup squad.
Group stage schedule
The U.S. opens Group J play against Montenegro on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Americans then face Chile on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 9:30 a.m. ET and close group play against Algeria on Friday, Nov. 27, at 10 a.m. ET. All three matches will be played at the Aspire Zone Sports Complex in Al Rayyan/Doha and broadcast on FS2.
The 48-team tournament runs Nov. 19 through Dec. 13. The top two teams in each of the 12 groups advance, along with the eight best third-place finishers.
The U.S. qualified in February by winning Group E at the 2026 Concacaf U-17 Qualifiers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, scoring 19 goals across three matches.
"We are proud to announce this group of players who will represent our country at the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup," Aldaz said, according to U.S. Soccer. He added that the coaching staff is confident the players will represent their families, clubs and country with purpose.
The roster features players from 17 clubs, including 14 from 10 MLS clubs. Atlanta United, Columbus Crew, New England Revolution and the New York Red Bulls each have two players on the squad. Nine players return from the qualifying roster, though Suarez-Couri is not among them.
