VANCOUVER, BC – Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) midfielder Jay Herdman has been called up to the 26-player squad for the upcoming Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) U-19 Championship in Tahiti.
The tournament runs from September 8 to 25, with the top two teams qualifying through to represent Oceania at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia.
In his first professional season in MLS NEXT Pro, Herdman has recorded two goals and one assist while making 18 appearances for WFC2, including nine starts.
The 18-year-old was born in Invercargill, New Zealand before moving to Surrey, BC in his youth. Earlier this year, he was called into camp with Canada's U-20 men's national team for two friendlies against Costa Rica, but did not receive his Canadian citizenship in time to be eligible for the Concacaf U-20 Championship tournament.
Herdman is expected to miss the remainder of the MLS NEXT Pro season while away at the OFC U-19 Championship.
New Zealand:
Sebastian BARTON-GINGER
Charlie BEALE
Oliver COLLOTY
Fin CONCHIE
Regan DIVER
Kian DONKERS
Theo ETTEMA
Oliver FAY
Henry GRAY
Jay HERDMAN
Isaac HUGHES
Jackson JARVIE
Noah KARUNARATNE
Lukas KELLY-HEALD
Joseph KNOWLES
Marco LORENZ
Jackson MANUEL
Oliver FAY, Oscar MASON
Dan MCKAY
Everton O’LEARY
Aaryan RAJ
Josh RUDLAND
Wilson SOUPHANTHAVONG
Adam SUPYK
Finn SURMAN
Chase TAYLOR
Head coach: Darren BAZELEY
