What do Christian Pulisic, Jonathan Gonzalez, Tyler Adams, Nick Taitague, and Timothy Weah all have in common, aside from currently plying their trade at the highest levels as youngsters?

All five of those exciting young adults were at one point part of US Club Soccer’s id2 National Selection International Tour, an annual international trip for 18 of the best young players in the country, where they face some of the top youth competition in the world.

With that historic pedigree, just earning a spot on the roster is a huge achievement for a hopeful future professional.

And for the second consecutive year, five current PDP players in Alejandro Alcala (Stockton TLJ FC), Andrew Dutra (California Odyssey), Nylmar Gonzalez (Marin FC), Alan Gutierrez (Red Star Soccer), and Nicholas McCune (San Ramon FC) have been selected to participate in the two-week trip.

“For us, this is a really great opportunity for our players because they get international experience,” said PDP Director of Scouting and id2 assistant coach Ian Mork. “At their age, it’s not just a big step for these kids to play at the international level against the competition, but also to be representing a selection of players from across the country.”

Those five players will be looking to follow in the footsteps of who is perhaps NorCal’s most famous PDP alum: Mexico international Jonathan Gonzalez, a former Atletico Santa Rosa standout.

Overall, the id2 team will be in camp in New Jersey from March 22-24 before travelling to Spain from March 25 – April 3 to participate in the prestigious Mediterranean International Cup for the second straight year.

Helped along by five NorCal players last year, the id2 squad didn’t allow a single goal in seven games, but fell to Inter Milan’s top academy side on penalties in the quarterfinals.

In this year’s group stage, id2 has drawn squads from the academies of Trendsetter Hawks FC (Trinidad and Tobago), Racing Sarria CF (Spain), and Club Daniel Carnevali (Spain).

In addition, the side will play a friendly against Girona FC Infantil A, who are also competing in the MIC.

According to Mork, it’s a testament to the excellent job that the clubs in the NorCal community and the Player Development Program are doing to get such a large portion of players from the area on the id2 team.

“For me it really proves that our NorCal clubs are doing a great job of cultivating the talent that’s already there within these players,” Mork said. “They’re comfortable in their environment so they’re able to excel. PDP is really just a reflection of their talent.”

“We’re on par with the rest of the US Club Soccer community in that we have all these players who proved themselves,” he added. “The impressive history of id2 players who have reached the professional level says a lot.

“Our NorCal PDP players also have the desire to become professionals. Now they just have to prove themselves once they get to Spain,” Mork concluded. “I have known this group of NorCal PDP players for several years and they always play to win, and more importantly love playing the sport. This opportunity is well-deserved and I know all five of them will make the most of the experience with a smile on their faces.”