U.S. to compete in CISM World Military Football Cup

Players from all five Service branches assembled from around the world to earn a spot on the 2017 Armed Forces Men’s Soccer team and a shot to represent the United States at the 2017 Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Military Football Cup in Muscat, Oman.

This year, Oman is hosting the second edition of the World Military Cup from 13-29 January in the capital city. Team from the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Poland, Ireland, Mali, Egypt, Guinea, Algeria, Iran, Syria, North Korea, Bahrain, Qatar and host nation Oman make up the 16-team championship.

The U.S. Armed Forces Men’s Soccer held its training camp from 28 December through 12 January at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas. Each Service branch brought up to eight players to earn a position on the 20-man roster.

Accompanying the U.S. squad was the Canadian Defense Forces Soccer Team, who were looking for warmer weather in order to train for the warm climate in Oman.

After a grueling two and half weeks, the final roster was set after scrimmaging the Canadian squad and other local clubs.

The U.S. will face Qatar, Mali and Ireland within Pool C of the first phase of the tournament. The U.S. must place in the top two of the pool in order to advance to the knockout phase, which leads to the championship match.

At the helm once again, is Air Force Lt Col Derrick Weyand, who coached the U.S. Armed Forces Team during the first CISM World Football Cup in Baku Azerbaijan in 2013. Weyand is also the head coach of the All-Air Force Men’s Soccer team, who recently won the 2016 Armed Forces Soccer Championship in May at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Joining Weyand is assistant coaches Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Nathan Gavin and Marine Corps Master Sergeant Mario Morales; with Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Guidry serving as the Team Captain. Gavin, Morales and Guidry all served as their respective Service soccer head coach during the 2016 Championship.

The 2017 U.S. Men’s Armed Forces Soccer team is:

LTJG Alexander Wilson - Navy
Sgt Alexander Figueroa - USMC
CPT Andrew Hyres - Army
SN Angel Vallejo - Navy
1st Lt Anthony O’Connor - USAF
SrA Benjamin Latimer - USAF
1st Lt Caleb Downey - USAF
Maj David Schill - USAF
PO3 Devonte Ecford - Navy
Capt Edward Pinnell - USMC
1stSgt Gabriel Jaramillo - USMC
LTJG Hector Arellano - Navy
PO3 Jonathan Mayo - Navy
SrA Jose Guillan - USAF
SGT Joseph Karslo - Army
1st Lt Kevin Durr - USAF
1st Lt Kevin Rossillion - USAF
Cpl Kevin Villanueva - USMC
LTJG Martin Sanchez - Navy
1stLt Jesus Ramos - USMC

Chief of Mission - COL Mark Drown - Army
Head Coach - Lt Col Derrick Weyand - USAF
Assistant Coach - SCPO Nate Gavin - Navy
Assistant Coach - MSgt Mario Morales - USMC
Team Captain - CW4 Michael Guidry - Army
Team Manager - Mr. Gilbert Cornejo - USAF
Team Doctor - LCDR Patrick Joyner - Navy
Team Trainer - Mr. Gil Gutierrez - USAF