Three Former Donosti Cup Players Called Up to the U.S. Under-15 National Team
Linares, Mulvenna, and Gbalajobi, runners-up in the Donosti Cup 2023 and 2024 with BeMatch International, have been called up for the national training camp in Georgia.
Javier Linares, Landon Mulvenna, and Olatimoni Gbalajobi, members of the Philadelphia Union Academy, have been selected to participate in the U.S. Under-15 Men’s National Team training camp from November 14 to 20 in Fayetteville, Georgia. Led by head coach Tom Heinemann, the camp will serve as preparation for next summer's Concacaf U-15 Championship and will be held at the future Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center.
Linares, a midfielder with exceptional organizational skills and game vision, was born in Philadelphia but has Asturian roots through his mother, granting him dual Spanish and American nationality. This unique background adds a distinctive layer to his international journey. Alongside Mulvenna, a solid defender, and Gbalajobi, a forward with an excellent ability to make runs and finish, the three players were part of BeMatch International, which reached the final of the Donosti Cup in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, they played a key role in a match that was decided by a penalty shootout, where an outstanding performance by the opposing goalkeeper prevented them from claiming the title.
This call-up marks a significant milestone for the Donosti Cup. While it is common for players who have participated in the tournament to be called up by national teams such as Spain or France, this is the first time that three players from the tournament have been selected to represent the United States. This achievement highlights the growing global impact of the Donosti Cup, a tournament to which the U.S. contributes a large number of teams each year, making it the third-largest participant nation after Spain and France.
The Donosti Cup continues to prove its role as a platform for young talent development. We extend our congratulations to Javier, Landon, and Olatimoni on this remarkable accomplishment and wish them the best of luck in their journey with the U.S. national team. We are confident they will continue to make an impact, just as they did in San Sebastián!
