The 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage is days away from kicking off and several current and past MLS NEXT Pro standouts will be looking to etch their names in the tournament’s history.
Harold Osorio, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and Molik Khan are just three of several players called into international duty for the competition. Osorio and Khan have continued through the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season with their respective clubs and will now try and translate that success over to the international level.
Russell-Rowe and Ali Ahmed were both called into the Canada men’s national team squad as John Herdman’s group tries to rebound from their Concacaf Nations League Finals loss to the United States.
Here is a closer look at which former and current MLS NEXT Pro players made Gold Cup rosters:
Harold Osorio - El Salvador - Chicago Fire II
Chicago Fire II attacker Harold Osorio might not only be the newest talent in MLS NEXT Pro, but also in the El Salvador national team pipeline.
Osorio has scored three goals and added five assists for Fire II this season in 723 minutes of action. The 19-year-old has helped Fire II start a recent turnaround in league play and will now try to carry that form over to Gold Cup play.
A former academy product of Alianza FC in his native El Salvador, Osorio already has earned two caps for the senior national team.
Jacen Russell-Rowe - Canada - Columbus Crew
John Herdman has decided to give plenty of youth options an opportunity in the Concacaf Gold Cup and Jacen Russell-Rowe is one of them.
Russell-Rowe enjoyed plenty of success during Columbus Crew 2’s title-winning campaign in 2022, winning the MLS NEXT Pro Golden Boot award after his 21 goals. The 20-year-old has since become a key depth player in Wilfried Nancy’s first team, scoring two goals and adding two assists in 16 MLS appearances this year.
Russell-Rowe will be seeking his senior debut for Canada after previously representing the Under-17 national team in 2019.
Molik Khan - Trinidad & Tobago - MNUFC2
Molik Khan has taken a key step forward with MNUFC2 in 2023 and now seeks similar success with the Trinidad & Tobago national team.
Khan has contributed two goals in 11 appearances (783 minutes) in MLS NEXT Pro this season, earning a larger role than in 2022. The 19-year-old midfielder originally came through the youth ranks of W Connection in his native country before signing with MNUFC2 in 2022.
Khan already has five senior caps under his belt for the Soca Warriors, dating back to 2021.
Modesto Mendez - Cuba - Inter Miami II
Cuban defender Modesto Mendez has continued to earn opportunities with Inter Miami II in 2023 during the MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
The 25-year-old defender logged 14 appearances during the inaugural league season and since has made four additional appearances in 2023. Mendez made his international debut for Cuba during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying cycle and since has appeared in three additional matches for his country.
A veteran defender, Mendez is still waiting for his MLS debut with the Herons’ first team.
Ali Ahmed - Canada - Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Ali Ahmed made the most of his MLS NEXT Pro opportunities in 2022 and since has skyrocketed himself into a first team role in 2023.
Ahmed registered five assists in 15 league appearances for Whitecaps FC 2 last season, totaling 1,184 minutes of action. The 22-year-old has since scored one goal and added one assist in nine MLS appearances for Vanni Sartini’s men, while also featuring in the Whitecaps’ Canadian Championship-winning run. Similar to international teammate Jacen Russell-Rowe, Ahmed is seeking his senior debut for Canada as well this summer.
